Yoga & Ayurveda with Jen Jones

08/19/2025

✨ Back-to-School Nerves ✨
Many kiddos in our area are starting school this week. Nervousness (and even excitement!) can make it tough to fall asleep the night before that first big day. I remember being young and lying awake for hours the night before school started. 😅

One of my favorite gentle supports for kids (and adults) is lemon balm 🌿. It’s a very safe herb that’s been traditionally used for teething, restlessness, relaxation, and even car sickness.

🌿 A few traditional uses of lemon balm:
- May support relaxation and a calm mood
- Traditionally used to ease occasional restlessness
- Known for its gentle, soothing flavor that kids often enjoy

💤 Sleep Soundly Tea

Kids: 1 tsp dried lemon balm

Adults: 1–2 tsp dried lemon balm

1 cup boiling water

Pour boiling water over the lemon balm, cover, and steep 10–15 minutes. Strain and enjoy about 60–90 minutes before bed. This timing also helps reduce middle-of-the-night bathroom trips. 😉

Here’s to calmer nights and an energized first day back to school! 📚✨

07/17/2025

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to teach on the Yamas and Niyamas in both the South River Yoga and Detox Yoga 200-hour teacher trainings.

Each month, I return to Deborah Adele’s The Yamas & Niyamas—a book I’ve been rereading since 2011—and her words continue to resonate deeply. They serve as a gentle reminder to check in with myself: my thoughts, my behaviors, and how I’m showing up in the world.

They invite me to reflect on my self-talk, my honesty—with myself and with others—my generosity versus scarcity mindset, and the ways I may be trying to control rather than trust the natural rhythm and flow of life.

This Tuesday in the South River training, we’ll be exploring Santosha—contentment. I’m especially looking forward to this session, as Santosha was the first yoga philosophy concept I ever explored in depth.

It has helped me find peace when life doesn’t unfold as I expected—and has taught me to be grateful for the wisdom gained through challenges and uncertainty.

“The mystics have learned that there is nothing missing; life is complete the way it comes to us in each moment. When we understand this, we sink into contentment.”
~ Deborah Adele

07/14/2025

It’s a little gray this morning in St. Louis ☁️—the kind of day where it’s easy to feel slow and unmotivated.

If you’re noticing that kapha pull (heavy, sluggish, a little foggy), this new practice might be just what you need to get moving and feel clear for the day ahead.

Awaken is a 27-minute flow designed to gently shake off the heaviness and spark energy and clarity.
You’ll move through active lunges, a dancing warrior flow, and balancing poses like stork and spinal balance.

It’s short, stimulating, and perfect for mornings or anytime you need a little lift.

👉 Watch now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EXXDNAkJvf8

This energizing practice is designed to wake up your body and mind. With active lunges, a dancing warrior flow, and dynamic balance poses like Stork and Spin...

07/08/2025

✨ “Let things break you wide open—that’s where the golden light is.” – butterflies rising

If you’ve been feeling a little foggy, heavy, or just off in the mornings… here’s a practice for tomorrow to help shift the energy. 🌞

Golden Light ~ AM Flow is a short and gentle sequence designed to get things moving—supporting lymphatic flow, waking up the body, and helping you feel clear, connected, and grounded as you start your day.

Roll out your mat, grab a strap, and press play in the morning.
A little movement can go a long way. 💛

📺 Watch now: https://youtu.be/ga5QEMEcz30

This morning sequence begins standing with shoulder stretches using a yoga strap, then moves into a few dynamic flows. Designed to warm the body and support...

07/05/2025

Need a little reset??

After teaching about saucha last week in SRY 200-hour YTT, I realized it was time for a reset of my own. This past week has been all about decluttering and simplifying—clearing space in our home and creating more room to breathe.

Saucha reminds us that our external environments have a big impact on how we feel internally. So it’s not just about the stuff—it’s about creating a little more peace, more clarity, and more presence in everyday life.

As I cleared space and reset our home, I found myself drinking this tea blend throughout the week. This blend is light, cooling, and calming—something to sip slowly in the middle of the whirlwind. Decluttering can feel overwhelming at times, but this little tea ritual helped me pause and take a deep breath.

🌿 Summer Reset Tea
• ½ tsp coriander seeds (lightly crushed)
• 1 tsp dried lemon balm
• ½ tsp rose hips
• ¼ tsp hibiscus petals
Steep in 8–10 oz hot water for 8–10 minutes. Strain and enjoy warm or over ice.

Sometimes it’s the smallest rituals that support the biggest shifts. 🫶

06/24/2025

🌿 Morning Clarity Tea for Hot Summer Days

This tea turned out so good! It’s light, refreshing and cooling. It’s especially great for this intense heat that can leave you feeling sluggish or depleted.

☀️ Why It’s Good For Summer
• Lemon Balm – Cooling and calming; traditionally used to ease stress and support emotional balance
• Nettle Leaf – A mineral-rich tonic that helps replenish nutrients and support natural energy
• Artichoke Leaf – Often used to support digestion and gentle liver function

Together, these herbs create a light, refreshing tea that supports clarity and balance—without adding internal heat.

☕ Brew Guide (per cup)
• 1 tsp lemon balm
• 1 tsp nettle leaf
• ½ tsp artichoke leaf
Pour 8–10 oz just-boiled water over herbs. Cover, steep for 8–10 minutes, then strain.

✨ Enjoy warm in the morning—or chill and serve over ice for a cooling afternoon drink.

Optional: Add a squeeze of citrus, a pinch of mineral salt, or a touch of raw honey for extra balance.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs therapeutically.

06/22/2025

🌺 Hibiscus Mint Sun Tea

I adapted this recipe from the Hibiscus Mint Tea on the Joyful Belly website. Here’s what I used:

• 20 ounces of water
• 1¼ tsp dried hibiscus
• 2–3 tsp fresh mint

Add everything to a jar and let it steep in the sun for 2–4 hours, until it turns a vibrant pink.

Optional: Add a squeeze of lime, a pinch of coconut sugar, and maybe an ice cube or two. Ayurveda traditionally avoids ice, but on the hottest days, a slightly chilled tea can be a refreshing way to cool down.

✨ Why I love it
Hibiscus is traditionally used to support the body during hot weather—it's considered cooling and mildly astringent, helping balance excess heat.
Mint is also known for its refreshing and calming qualities, often used to ease heat-related tension or irritability.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs therapeutically.

06/21/2025

Ayurveda is based on the principle that like increases like, and opposites bring balance.

So, imagine it’s really hot out (like today), and I sit down to a spicy bowl of chili… I’ll probably feel even hotter.
Or it’s freezing in winter, and I eat a bowl of ice cream—suddenly I’m colder.

The same goes for how we live:
✨ Eat a heavy meal and then sit on the couch for hours = feeling heavy, sluggish
✨ Rush around all day and land in a noisy, chaotic space = feeling overstimulated and edgy

Over time, these qualities build up. In Ayurveda, we try to catch imbalances early—and gently bring the body back into balance using opposite qualities through diet and lifestyle.

Here’s a simple, seasonal example:

🌾 Coconut Lime Basmati Rice
Cooling, light, and soothing for digestion—perfect for a hot summer day.

Serves 2
Ingredients
• ½ cup basmati rice
• 1 cup coconut water
• ½ tbsp coconut oil
• ¼ tsp salt
• 4 slices of lime
• 2–3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• Optional: extra lime or salt to taste

Instructions

Soak rice for 4–6 hours if possible.
→ This helps soften the grain and supports easier digestion—especially when digestive fire (Agni) is lower in hot weather.

In a small pot, combine drained & rinsed rice with coconut water, coconut oil, and salt.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 12–15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.

Let sit for 5 minutes.

Squeeze fresh lime over the rice, then sprinkle with chopped cilantro just before serving.

🥥 Coconut water hydrates and cools
🍋 Lime brightens and refreshes
🌿 Cilantro is a rare cooling digestive herb that clears excess heat from the system
🌾 Basmati rice is light and easy to digest—great when appetite is low

This dish comes together quickly, and it’s a beautiful way to bring in more cooling qualities through food. 💛

06/20/2025

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.”
– John Lubbock

☀️ On this longest day of the year, may we each take a moment to pause, breathe, and feel the warmth of the sun.

I created this 23-minute Solstice Yoga Practice to help you move with intention, awaken your inner fire, and soak in the beauty of the season. It’s a flow-style class with energizing lunges, planks, and vinyasas to stoke your inner glow and leave you feeling strong, clear, and grounded.

Move, breathe, and enjoy the day 🌞
👉

This 23-minute flow is designed to honor the sun, build internal heat, and awaken your strength and vitality. Expect energizing lunge flows, planks, and smo...

06/19/2025

With the summer solstice tomorrow, we’re officially entering BBQ season—longer days, backyard gatherings, and plates full of variety.

One of the foundational teachings in Ayurveda is that digestion is the cornerstone of health. And while summer gatherings are joyful, they can also be a little tough on the gut—especially when we’re mixing lots of different foods in one sitting.

✨ The good news? A little intention around what you prepare and how you eat can make all the difference.

🌿 Ayurvedic Insight:

In Ayurveda, long cook times are celebrated for making food more easier to digest. Slow simmering softens the beans’ outer layers, while spices like cumin, black pepper, and ginger, along with a strip of kombu or bay leaf, help reduce gas and bloating.

🫘 Why I Love These:

• Soaked dried beans = gentler on digestion
• No processed sauces or artificial flavors
• Warming spices to support digestibility
• Packed with fiber, iron, and plant-based protein

🍲 Crockpot Baked Beans

Ingredients:
• 2 cups dried pinto beans (soaked overnight, drained & rinsed)
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• ½ cup water or broth (to thin paste)
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp mustard (Dijon or yellow)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 2½–3 cups total water or broth (I used bone broth, but veggie broth or water works well too.)

Optional:
• 1–3 tbsp coconut sugar (I added mine near the end of cooking to taste—ended up using 3 tbsp)
• ½ tbsp fresh grated ginger
• Bay leaf or kombu strip for added digestibility

Instructions:

Soak beans for 6–8 hours.

Add all ingredients to your slow cooker and stir well.

I cooked mine on high for about 8 hours, then on low for another 1–2 hours—they took a while to fully soften.

Remove the lid in the final 30–60 minutes to help reduce the sauce, if needed.

Taste and adjust seasonings before serving.

06/15/2025

🥛 Why I’m Team H**p Milk Over Oat 💚

I’m making a cake today for Father’s Day and needed a quick plant-based milk…Since I didn’t pre-plan and soak almonds overnight—and I don’t usually reach for oat milk due to its high glycemic index—I decided to make a quick batch of homemade h**p milk instead.

I’m always looking for simple ways to include more h**p seeds in our day—they’re incredibly nutritious! And with sugar already in the cake, using a milk with more protein and healthy fats just made sense for better blood sugar balance.

✨ Ready in under 2 minutes—no soaking, straining optional, and packed with goodness.

💡 Why I choose h**p over oat milk:

• No prep = ready in minutes
• Higher protein + healthy fats = more stable blood sugar
• Lower glycemic impact than oat milk
• Rich in omega-3s, iron, magnesium, and zinc
• Easier to digest — no starchiness or added gums like many store-bought oat milks
• Naturally anti-inflammatory: h**p is rich in omega-3s and GLA, which support gut health and tissue repair

🌿 H**p Milk Recipe:

• ½ cup shelled h**p seeds
• 3–4 cups filtered water
• 1–2 tsp maple syrup or honey (optional)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• Pinch of sea salt
• Optional: cardamom or cinnamon for warmth

→ Blend on high for 30–60 seconds. Strain if desired.

→ Store in the fridge for 3–4 days. Shake before using!

Perfect in morning chai, warm cereal, or your favorite baked goods.

Let me know if you give homemade h**p milk a try! 👇

**pMilk **pOverOat

06/15/2025

Greek Yogurt Cilantro Lime Sauce — My current favorite dip 💚

I’ve been loving this bright, creamy sauce lately—it’s packed with digestive-friendly ingredients and works beautifully as a dip for veggies, a drizzle over grain + veggie bowls, or even as a light dressing for fresh greens.

✨ Cilantro – One of my go-to summer herbs. It’s cooling, detoxifying, and helps clear excess heat.

✨ Lime – Bright, tangy, and great for digestion—especially when the summer heat dampens your appetite.

✨ Greek Yogurt – Creamy and protein-rich, but also a bit heavy. I usually thin it with a splash of water or lime juice to lighten it. If you’re prone to congestion, coconut yogurt is a great alternative.

✨ Optional Ginger – Adds warmth and a little digestive spark.

✨ Optional Cumin – A carminative spice that supports gut function and enhances absorption—especially great if your digestion feels sluggish.

I made this batch with Nancy’s Organic Whole Milk Greek Yogurt, which is packed with live probiotics, sourced from pasture-raised cows, and free from added thickeners or gums. While Ayurveda traditionally favors freshly made yogurt, this is one store-bought brand I feel good about using now and then.

🌿 Greek Yogurt Cilantro Lime Dip (Ayurveda-Inspired)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt (or coconut yogurt for dairy-free)

• ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves (loosely packed)

• Juice of 1 lime

• 1–2 tbsp water (to thin)

• Optional: fresh grated ginger or pinch of cumin

Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor.

Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust water as needed. Enjoy ✌️