Garden of Healing Massage Therapy

01/24/2026

It is finally starting to feel like January and it looks like we will be hitting our seasonal lows with this arctic blast coming this weekend. Better late than never! Sunday will be the perfect day to snuggle up in a blanket with a book or the Broncos game! Here are some yummy recipes to warm you up and get your blood moving. Cinnamon Oatmeal with Almonds and Milk for breakfast and Beef with Pototoes and Peas for lunch or dinner will really hit the spot Sunday. There's even some recipes for simple fermented foods you can make at home. Enjoy!

Introduction By the time January rolls around, it starts to feel like the cold will never end. The incessant chill and dark evenings dampen your spirits and leave you longing the warmth of the spring sun. As the weather drives you

01/02/2026

Happy New Year! Typically the temperatures bottom out in January. This feels like a very atypical year in Colorado, however, so who knows if that will actually happen. We are still mostly in the dark though, which means it's time to slow down and reflect on the past year. It is a time to go inward and figure out what you want to manifest in the new year.

If you overindulged over the holidays, now is the time to work on shedding the extra pounds. You can start by lightening up your diet, especially if the weather stays warm. Sour foods like pickled garlic, pickles, sauerkraut, and grapefruit will help keep your body juicy in these dry conditions and cleanse your liver so you can better digest fats. Pungent spices like ginger, black pepper, turmeric, and cinnamon will help keep your blood moving which tends to stagnate in January. For more on how to support your body in January, click the link below.

The quiet solitude of January makes it a perfect month for deep thought, rest, and contemplation. The dark, introspective winter seems to bury all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, bringing the previous year to a complete rest. As the earth bec

12/18/2025

Although the temperatures don't feel like December right now, the wind is howling outside and our bodies still know it's here. Here are some delicious recipes to warm and build your blood. Also, some yummy drinks to strengthen your immune system so you can fend off winter bugs. I especially like the Persian Pomegranate Walnut Stew, the Baked Apples with Rosemary, and the Peppermint Cocoa Shake. Click the article below for more recipes.

https://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/article/15-Ayurvedic-Recipes-for-December/6165?

Every year the holiday season leads to a debate: How should you care for your body? In December, do you listen to your natural instincts to stay in and hibernate? Or do you live it up and enjoy all the festive cheer the holiday season offers? Do yo

12/03/2025

Happy December! The hustle and bustle of the holiday season has arrived. This can be a joyous or challenging time of year. Many of us have social commitments and other stressors that can drain us of our energy. Finding a few moments of stillness can really help us recharge. Sweet, salty, and pungent foods are in the menu in December. Think curries and well spiced soups and stews. Red foods like pomegranate, beets, cranberries cherries, and red cabbage are especially beneficial this time of year because they are loaded with antioxidants and build the blood. For more on how to support your body in December read the article below.

https://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/article/Ayurvedic-Diet-for-December/5673?

Cooking in the winter is a delight. As you stand by the warm stove, its heat and aromas will fill your house. The winter chill is softened by this warmth. A cozy evening indoors is all the more appealing when Jack Frost nips at your nose. As you cuddle up

11/22/2025

We are in the last half of November and it finally felt like it today. Next week is Thanksgiving where we can come together with friends and family to share the bounty of the season and give thanks for our blessings. Thanksgiving is truly one of my favorite holidays for just this reason. Here are some delicious recipes to help you settle into the season. I love all of them, but particularly the roasted rice with dates, cinnamon, and cardamom; the ginger carrot soup; and the sweet potato pie. Enjoy!

https://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/article/10-Ayurvedic-Recipes-for-November/6148?

November heralds one of the most anticipated meals of the year, Thanksgiving. People come together to share this feast with loved ones, and express thanks and gratitude for all the year has brought thus far. Excitement mounts in November as the holidays a

11/04/2025

We have turned the clocks back an hour and instantly the days feel so short. It is consistently colder now and this combination drives us inward and fuels our cravings for heavier foods. November is a time for quiet nights at home with the family. It is a time to reflect and give thanks for all that we have and to share with those that have not. Enjoy the comforting veggies that have now come into season like sweet potatoes, squashes, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, and mushrooms. You can even add a little extra fat in your diet in the form of whole dairy, cheese, ghee, and nuts. The extra layer of fat you are building provides insulation to protect you from the cold and strengthen your immunity. Click the article below to learn more about how to support your body in November.

https://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/article/Ayurvedic-Diet-for-November/5637?

November brings our hearts back home. The smell of turkey, the comfort of warm mashed potatoes with gravy, and gratitude for the harvest celebrated on Thanksgiving make food the centerpiece of November. Breaking bread, food, and togetherness are venerated

10/24/2025

Spooky season is here. A few good, windy days and the trees will be bare. Just in time for Halloween. The wind and the cold will start to drive us inside and we will crave coziness and comfort foods. Here are some yummy recipes to warm and satisfy your belly. The Basil Butternut Squash over Coconut Quinoa and Baked Apples in Spicy Apricot Sauce are particular favorites.

Daylight hours shrink in October and the morning air is crisp and cooler. The once lush, green hillside is suddenly colored and brilliant. In October, enjoy the colorful display as deep red and amber leaves swirl in the wind. The last hurrah of fall is an

10/09/2025

This morning I woke up to a frost. The beautiful leaves starting to change and the cold, last couple of days definitely let me know fall is here. October is marked by dry, crunching leaves, windy nights, and big temperature swings. It is very important to layer up this time of year to keep your body temperature in balance.

You may notice your appetite increasing and you may start to crave heavier foods like root veggies, squashes, and sweets. Feel free to lean into this craving and spice your food with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, garlic, onion, and thyme to help you digest the heavier food. For more on how to support your body in October, check out the article below.

Autumn is a Vata season characterized by degeneration, the ending of things. By the end of October, there's no turning back - the late summer heat of September gives way to true cold. The cat who lay stretched out on your hardwood floor all summer sneaks

09/25/2025

The great tarantula migration has begun! Each year from mid September to the end of October male tarantulas venture out in search of a mate. Once they find one, they have a very interesting mating ritual. The males tap a love song on the silk at the opening of the female's burrough. If she is receptive, she will return the tapping and he will continue to tap on her in a sort of tarantula massage to calm and relax her before they mate. How sweet! ❤️

This time of year in southeast Colorado, hordes of tarantulas set out on their annual migration across the grasslands in search of a mate. The event draws plenty of tourists who are eager to witness the sight. Ahead of this weekend’s Tarantula Fest, we talk with an expert to learn what makes taran...

09/23/2025

Happy Fall Equinox! The dark and the light are in perfect balance today. Traditionally, in Ayurveda, this is a time to cleanse the gut with kitchari. This is a time reset and get a fresh start. Now that the days will be shorter than the nights, it is a time to go inward and cozy up by a fire with a hot cup of cider. A time to ground into some self care rituals. Here are some delicious, grounding recipes to help you enjoy the season.

As the first few weeks of fall carry a crisp chill in the air, you may need an extra blanket at night, a cozy sweater in the morning or even a hot cup of tea. In September, your body transitions from the hot summer days of Pitta season into the cooler Vat

09/19/2025

The fall equinox is almost upon us. This shift from summer to fall signals to our bodies it's time to prepare for winter. This is also an ideal time to get a lymphatic massage. Our bodies prepare for winter by pulling fats from the blood and depositing them in the skin to create a nice buffer against the cold. This process causes the blood and lymph to thin and become stagnant. A lymphatic massage keeps the lymph moving and helps strengthen the immune system. Check out the article below for more on the benefits of lymphatic massage.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21768-lymphatic-drainage-massage

09/10/2025

September is a month of change. The winds bring cool, dry air, drying us out internally and externally. If we do not address this dryness, it can manifest into anxiety, insomnia, and feeling scatterbrained. Sweet, sour, and salty tasting foods are ideal for this time of year. As are heavier, fattier dishes. Think applesauce, root veggies, nuts and seeds, and chicken and salmon. Seaweed and shellfish are also excellent this time of year. For more on how to support your body in September, check out the article below.

https://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/article/Ayurvedic-Diet-for-September/926?

September evenings are full of stillness and the sound of crickets in the dry grass. Vegetation becomes sparse. Garden stems are leggy. Even the midday sun seems a bit darker. Evening coolness reminds us that although we wish summer could last forever, al