How to beat gloomy day blues! Ayurveda teaches us to be proactive about our health - we all know that the seasons will ultimately transition from Summer, to Autumn and then onto Winter - so we should be ready and prepare ourselves for this change. 1. Make an extra endeavour to try and expose yourself to as much sunlight as possible - this might mean you have your morning cup of tea in front of your brightest window or you take a short 15min stroll after your lunch at noon. For those really gloomy days, invest in some light therapy with a SAD lamp. 2. The heaviness and stagnantion in the external environment only exacerbates those feelings in our body and mind - try and counteract this with some light movement. Whether you go outside for a brisk walk, or try a new exercise class at home - movement is medicine. 3. For those feelings of lethargy and depression in the mind, begin to observe your emotions - find some way to express them, whether it’s articulating them through journalling, getting creative by drawing them or talking to someone about them - and then notice little things in the day that make you smile. #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #sadlamps #seasonalaffectivedisorder #winterblues #beatthewinterblues #mindovermatter #practicalayurveda #realayurveda #everydayayurveda #investinyourhealth #naturalhealth

Thinking of expanding your family? Then make sure you prepare your body and mind in the best way possible to ensure your chances of a healthy conception and pregnancy. And one of the best ways to make this happen is with a reset. And the best reset meal: KICHDI! And to accelerate your reset - add @theoshwellness Preconception capsules to your regime. Filled with the goodness of shatavari root, moringa leaf, chaste tree berry, red clover and stinging nettle - it’s got all the good stuff, in just the right amounts to help your body kickstart it’s natural healing potential. Ingredients: - 1/4 cup rice - 1/4 cup yellow moong dal - 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp ajwain seeds - 1/4 tsp turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp ginger powder - 1/2 tsp salt - ghee to add after Method: 1. Wash the rice and yellow moong dal three times (discarding the water each time). 2. Soak the rice and yellow moong dal in clean water for about half hour. 3. In a small pressure cooker (or pot) add the soaked and drained rice and yellow moong dal, 1.5 cups water and all the listed spices and salt. 4. Place the lid on the pressure cooker and cook for 4 whistles on medium heat. If cooking in a saucepan, then cook until the mixture is soft and mushy on low heat. 5. Once the pressure has released, remove the kichdi and serve with a big dollop of ghee. #kichdi #reset #preconception #ayurveda #ayurvedicrecipes #pregnancy #ayurvedicconception #ayurvedicwellness #ayurvedicsupplements #oshwellness #ayurvedicpreconception

Dhanteras Dhanvantari Jayanti World Ayurveda Day Honouring the great legacy of Lord Dhanvantari and the immense treasure he left us: Ayurveda. Sharing two small reflections on what Ayurveda means to me! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #ayurveda #worldayurvedaday #dhanteras #dhanvantari #dhanvantarijayanti

My Self Massage Guide! It’s a unique resource which allows you to practically apply all the theoretical aspects of this amazing self-care ritual. Self-massage is spoken of so highly within Ayurveda but people often face blocks of how to apply it in their lifestyle. ❌ There’s the uncertainty of knowing how to actually do the self massage ❌ Many people are unsure of what oil to use ❌ A lot of people see it as an unattainable practice which takes too much time, and is too impractical for their busy life I answer all these queries and address all of your doubts within the Self Massage Guide - it’s the best way to turn this theoretical practice into a practical reality! Use the link in bio to purchase the Self Massage Guide! #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #selfmassage #abhyanga #massage #selfcare #selflove #massageguide #ayurvedicmassage

✨ GIVEAWAY ✨ In celebration of the launch of the Self-Massage Guide, I’ve partnered with two of my favourite skin and hair care companies. Their products are what I religiously use on my skin and in my hair and I’m so excited that they’re a part of this giveaway. TO ENTER, all you need to do is: 1. Like this post and follow @_nitisheth_ , @pavitra_sacredbeauty and @reikabotanics 2. Tag a friend in the comments (each tag = 1 entry so get tagging!) One lucky winner will receive: 🩷 The Sundari Rose Body Oil from Pavitra Sacred Beauty 🩷 REIKA Botanics luxurious Hair Growth Oil 🩷 The Self Massage Guide - which will help you put these two amazing oils to good use! (lifetime access) Ends on Friday 1st November at midnight and the winner will be DM’d to claim their prizes! This giveaway is open to UK residents only and is not affiliated with Instagram. #giveaway #ayurveda #haircare #ukgiveaway #ayurvedicbeauty #ayurvedichaircare #ayurvedicskincare #selfmassage #abhyanga #massageguide

For this week only (until Friday 25th October) there will be a special launch offer discount - Use the code selfmassage5 to receive the Self Massage Guide for only £25 (instead of £30) Link 🔗 in Bio! #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #selfmassage #abhyanga #massage #selfcare #selflove #massageguide #ayurvedicmassage

It’s finally here! Something I’ve been working on for months and I’m so excited to share: My Self Massage Guide! It’s a unique resource which allows you to practically apply all the theoretical aspects of this amazing self-care ritual. Self-massage is spoken of so highly within Ayurveda but people often face blocks of how to apply it in their lifestyle. ❌ There’s the uncertainty of knowing how to actually do the self massage ❌ Many people are unsure of what oil to use ❌ A lot of people see it as an unattainable practice which takes too much time, and is too impractical for their busy life I answer all these queries and address all of your doubts within the Self Massage Guide - it’s the best way to turn this theoretical practice into a practical reality! For this week only (until Friday 25th October) there will be a special launch offer discount - Use the code selfmassage5 to receive the Self Massage Guide for only £25 (instead of £30.00) Comment ‘MASSAGE’ to get the guide now! #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #selfmassage #abhyanga #massage #selfcare #selflove #massageguide #ayurvedicmassage

Watch this space! Something special dropping tomorrow! #massage #selfmassage #selflove #abhyanga #ayurvedicmassage #snehana

Lemongrass-Ginger tea - Handful of fresh lemongrass - Dry ginger or fresh ginger depending on your needs for the day. Dry ginger is more centrally stimulating (better for digestion) and fresh ginger is more peripherally active (better for circulation) - Boil both in 1.5 cups of water for about 5 minutes and then strain and sip Other good spices to include in herbal teas: - Ajwain seeds to alleviate bloating and gas and stimulate the appetite - Black pepper to stoke the appetite and improve circulation - Cardamom to break up mucus, open the airways and cleanse the lymphatic system - Cinnamon to loosen lung mucus and improve lung circulation - Coriander to remove heavy metals from the body, flush out toxins and encourage fluid movement in the body - Turmeric to stimulate digestion and boost immunity #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #seasonalcolds #changeinseasons #ayurvedicseasonalliving #ayurvedaandautumn #ritucharya #ritusandhi #ayurvedictea #herbaltearemedy #lemongrass #ginger #ayurvedicrecipe

Sharad Purnima Special Kheer To cook on a full moon, or to cook for a friend or to nourish yourself. Ingredients: - 2L whole organic cow’s milk - 1/2 cup jasmine rice washed - 1.5 cups sugar or mishri - 10-12 strands safforn - 1/2 teaspoon cardmom powder - chopped almonds and pistachios to garnish - rose petals to garnish Method: 1. In a heavy bottom saucepan, bring 2L of milk to a boil. Keep the heat on medium and continue stirring to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom. 2. Add the saffron and once the milk has come to a boil, add in the washed rice. Keep stirring while on medium heat till the rice cooks. 3. Once the rice has cooked, add in the cardamom powder and sugar. Keep stirring to ensure the rice doesn’t clump together or the milk doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. 4. The milk should have thickened slightly (the entire cooking process may take about an hour - the longer you cook the milk, the thicker it will become). Garnish with chopped nuts and rose petals. 5. Offer with love, and honour with gratitude! And for the BEST pregnancy and postpartum support look no further than @theoshwellness ! An incredible range of science-backed Ayurvedic herbal support which is the perfect sidekick for every phase of your life. #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #seasonalcolds #changeinseasons #ayurvedicseasonalliving #ayurvedaandautumn #ritucharya #ritusandhi #sharadpurnima #kheer #ayurvedicrecipe

Are you someone that is always falling sick the minute the weather changes? Do you blame temperature changes for your colds and flus? Let’s learn to understand how we can harness the change in seasons to work FOR us rather than AGAINST us! In the “Seize the Season” series, I’ll be sharing diet modifications, immuni-teas, lifestyle habits all to help us prepare for the change in seasons. If you live somewhere where Summer is now transitioning to Autumn then let me know in the comments if there’s anything specifically I can address to help you “SEIZE THE SEASON”! #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #seasonalcolds #changeinseasons #ayurvedicseasonalliving #ayurvedaandautumn #ritucharya #ritusandhi

3 years since this epic moment! Thank you @shyam_govinda for this amazing surprise. What brings you happy tears? #happytears #familyiseverythingtome #familyislove #parentslove #husbandwife #imnotcryingyourecrying

It’s #worldmentalhealthday and while it’s such a HUGE topic, Ayurveda speaks about the importance of using your senses in the right way for a healthy mind and body. #mentalhealthawareness #ayurvedaandmentalhealth #ayurvedaandthemind #senseperception #healthymindandbody #ayurvedaandsenses #purifyingsenses #cleansingthesenses #healthysenses

Don’t leave oil in your hair overnight! Growing up, it was super common for us to oil our hair at night, sleep and then wash it off in the morning. But did you know that keeping the oil on your head overnight might be causing you more harm than good? Applying oil on your scalp is generally a cooling practice. Hair and scalp oiling is normally done to improve hair growth, nourish the scalp and reduce hair fall - and for these, it’s important to use herbs and oils which provide a cooling effect. When you leave oil on your hair for long periods of time - it can be TOO cooling to the body and lead to issues of excess congestion and mucus in the body - ie coughs, colds and sinus issues. It’s important that you don’t keep the oil on your head for more than 1-2 hours - especially if you live in a cold climate. And definitely don’t expose your oiled head to the external elements (ie don’t leave the house with oil in your hair). #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #wellnesstips #hairoiling #ayurvedicheadmassage #headmassage #ayurvedichairoil

Do you ever feel a constant tug between wanting to slow down but wanting to push on? Of living out your feminine nature of taking care and being a nurturer, but still yearning to strive in your professional ambitions? It’s a constant battle many women face - and there’s no right or wrong answer. We’re meant to go with the flow of nature, but society tries to take us out of this flow at every opportunity! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #wellnesstips

Are you constantly getting sick the minute the weather changes? Would you like to better understand how to mould your life to welcome the change of seasons? Are you ready to embrace Autumn with good health! Then join me for my FREE webinar on Ayurveda & Autumn! * Understand what is happening in Autumn (outside us and inside us) * Know the best dietary practices to adopt (foods to favour and minimise) * Find out what lifestyle changes we can make to harmonise with Autumn 📍 online - Zoom 📅 Thursday 10th October 2024 ⏰ 8:00 PM BST | 3 PM EDT | 12 PM PDT A recording will be sent to everyone after the event - so still sign up if you can’t make it! Comment the word ‘AUTUMN’ to reserve your space now! #autumn #fall #seasonalcolds #ayurvedaandautumn #naturalimmunity #ayurvedaandimmunity #freeayurvedawebinar

Raab (serves 2) Ingredients: - 2 tablespoons ghee - 3 tablespoons flour of your choice (choose from: wholewheat atta, bajra - pearl millet, juwar - sorghum, ragi - finger millet, barley, buckwheat, farali etc) - 45 g jaggery - 2 cups water for a semi-runny consistency (more if you want it more liquid, less if you want it like a porridge consistency - 1/2 teaspoon ajwain seeds crushed - 1/4 teaspoon dry ginger powder Method: 1. Warm the ghee in a saucepan. 2. Roast the flour of your choice in the ghee - keep stirring continuously until the flour becomes well roasted and aromatic - some of them may take on a darker colour. This should take around 5 minutes. 3. Add in the crushed ajwain seeds and dry ginger powder. 4. Add in the water - remember to add less water if you’d prefer a porridge consistency and more if you prefer it like a drink. 5. Add in the jaggery and bring everything to a slow boil. 6. Allow to simmer for another 2-3 minutes. 7. Take off the heat, offer with love and honour with gratitude. #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #wellnesstips #raab #healthybreakfastrecipes #ayurvedicbreakfast #ayurvedicrecipes #nourishingdrinks #fingermillet #pearlmillet #barleyflour

We often think that adding as many healthy and superfoods as possible in one meal is the best thing to do. It’s so common to see smoothies filled with chia seeds, protein powder, hemp seeds, flax seeds, spirulina, frozen fruits, plant-based yoghurt etc etc. and then be advised to drink it for breakfast. But think of your digestion as a sorting machine - when you include lots of foods of different properties and qualities in one meal, your digestion has an even harder time sorting through it all. Fruits are digested differently to vegetables to proteins to spices to dairy to nuts - and even within each category there are slight variations on how for example a potato is digested as compared to some broccoli. In Ayurveda, the main digestive fire that does the initial breakdown of foods is called jatharagni. Once food has been digested by the jatharagni, it is then broken down depending on the predominant elemental composition of the food - and this is of 5 types - the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether). When you mix foods of many different elemental types, there’s a lot of involvement of ALL the different elemental digestive fires (Bhutagni) and things just become complicated. So instead of trying to see how many ‘healthy’ or ‘superfoods’ you can fit into each meal - keep it simple. Here’s a simple formula that I follow for lunches and dinners: 1-2 veggies 1 protein 1 grain Spices of your choice Dairy if appropriate Remember 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙖𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩! #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #wellnesstips #digestion #guthealth #mindbodygut #gutandbrainconnection #gutisyoursecondbrain #digestioniseverything #ayurvedaanddigestion

Digestion in Ayurveda can be such a vast topic. It is the most important aspects of a person’s health, yet sometimes it can be difficult to understand. Here is: Digestion Simplified! Let me know in the comments below what you’d like me to address in terms of digestion! #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #wellnesstips #digestion #guthealth #mindbodygut #gutandbrainconnection #gutisyoursecondbrain #digestioniseverything #ayurvedaanddigestion

I was hesitant at first to post this video of my masala dabba aka my spice box. Mainly because the first spice I’ve refilled in it is red chili powder - a spice that many are told to avoid by their Ayurvedic practitioners and doctors. Because too much red chili powder can create more heat in the body leading to inflammation and a whole host of other imbalances. But I’m all for keeping things real on here. I generally use the red chili powder maybe 3-4 times a week. We don’t eat Indian food everyday (when it’s just the two of us) and so I tend to utilise a lot of other spices and herbs in my daily cooking. And this masala dabba has evolved since I got married - the cinnamon, clove and dry whole red chili are something I picked up from my in-laws. Again they’re used 3-4 times during the week. Go to any home in India and you’ll find differences in what’s kept in their spice box. So let me know below: what do you have in your spice box? #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #wellnesstips #weekendliving #weekdayliving #regulatedlife #masaladabba #spicebox #spicesasmedicine #yourkitchenpharmacy

Looking forward to your weekend sleep in? It may be doing your body more harm than good! It’s actually better for our bodies to live a regulated life regardless of if it’s a weekend or weekday. #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #wellnesstips #weekendliving #weekdayliving #regulatedlife #routineiskey #dailyroutine

Popped Sorghum (Jowar) Ingredients: - 1-2 tablespoons ghee - 50g popped jowar - 1/4 cup daria dal (split roasted gram) - 1/2 cup cashews - 1/3 cup raisins - 1 green chilli finely chopped - 10-15 curry leaves - 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder - 1.5 teaspoon salt Method: 1. Heat the ghee in a wide and heavy-bottom pot. 2. Once hot, add the asafoetida, green chili and curry leaves in quick succession. 3. Once these have become aromatic, then add in the cashews and daria dal and mix everything well on low heat. 3. Then add in the raisins, the popped jowar, the turmeric powder and the salt. Stir everything until well combined. 4. Heat the oven to 100 degrees celcius. 5. Spread the popped jowar mixture on a baking tray and put it in the oven for 15-20 minutes. The low heat will help everything crisp up without burning the mixture. 6. Once crisp, allow to cool and then place in an airtight container for your next snack! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #ayurvedicsnacks #snackingandayurveda #poppedjowar #jowardhani #glutenfreesnacks #vegetariansnacks #moviesnacks

Here’s a thought for the day - we eat food to nourish our bodies, but what about food to nourish our minds? To change our mindset, we must change what we put in it. But what feeds the mind? On one level, the food we eat also provides nourishment for our minds, and this is on a more elemental level. Another level of nourishment for our minds comes through the impressions and experiences we take in through the senses. These colour our thoughts and affect our feelings. So ask yourself... what experiences and impressions are you feeding your mind? We commonly think of agni just in reference to breaking down, absorbing and assimilating the food that we eat - but agni refers to the processing of food AND our 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. What does this mean? Everything we take in through our senses (whatever we see, smell, touch, hear and taste) is digested, absorbed, assimilated and transformed into knowledge - so that our body can properly utilise what our senses are subjected to. And how do we know we’ve got a strong agni to properly transform our sensory experiences? Through our digestion of sensory incidents - we get knowledge and understanding. We feel fearless and courageous; we experience joy and contentment; we develop clarity and comprehension. Basically we develop a whole host of good emotions and feelings in the mind. So make sure you’re properly digesting what you eat AND what you see, hear, touch and smell.

Food isn’t just for our mouths, it’s food for thought too. Our senses are gateways by which we can perceive the world. We learn about our senses when we are little, excitedly pointing to our nose when someone says nose, our eyes when someone says eyes and sticking out our tongues when someone says tongue. But then do we really pay attention to our senses after that? I oven think of modern society or the current fast-paced world as an assault to the senses - they are being overloaded at every second of the day: our eyes bombarded with advertisements every way we turn; the plethora of smells tantalise our nose as we enter a shopping mall to persuade us to buy the latest perfume or try their newest coffee roast - the list is endless. Our sense are delicate instruments that we use to discriminate between delight and distress. Pay close attention to what you see, hear, feel, taste and see - does it nurture you or damage you? Your job is to pay attention and respond appropriately - learning to choose the right food for your senses. When you repeatedly make incorrect choices, you confuse or damage your senses, your confusion clouds your consciousness, and making decisions from the incorrect consiousness will destroy you over time. It sounds quite drastic but it’s the truth. Be attentive to your body; detect when music is too aggressive, food too processed, or your eyes too tired to read the screen. Disrespect your senses and you cause disease in your body, your mind and your relationships. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #foodforthought #foodforyoursenses #sensefood

One-pot Sambhar Rice (for One) Ingredients: - slightly less than 1/4 cup tuvar dal - slightly less than 1/4 cup rice - vegetables of your choice (choose 2-3 from: green beans, carrot, bottle gourd, ridge gourd, zucchini, drumstick/moringa stalk, pumpkin/butternut squash) - half tomato chopped - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder - 1.5 teaspoons sambhar masala/powder - 1/2 teaspoon salt - mustard seeds - curry leaves - ghee - small piece of tamarind (optional) Method: 1. Wash and rinse the rice and dal together at least 2-3 times until the water runs clear. Soak the rice and dal in boiling water for about 20-30mins. 2. Wash and chop your vegetables of choice in small cubes. 3. In a pressure cooker - place the soaked dal and rice, vegetables, half a tomato diced, a small piece of fresh tamarind (removing the seeds), turmeric powder, sambhar masala and salt. Ensure there’s at least double the amount of water to rice/dal/vegetable mixture. Pressure cook for 4-5 whistles on medium heat. 4. Once the rice, dal and vegetables mixture is cooked, allow the pressure to naturally release and then open the lid to check everything is well cooked - especially the dal. 5. Finish off with a tempering of ghee, mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add to the sambhar rice and mix well. 6. Serve with some crunchy pappadum, offer with love and honour with gratitude. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #easyindianrecipes #weeknightdinners #vegetarianmeals #ayurvedicrecipes

My absolute favourite thing to share to help people understand Ayurveda in a nutshell: 1. Know your digestion: understand what foods work for you, what make you feel good and what make you feel not-so-good. And when you know your digestion and implement this into your life - this is one of the most powerful changes you can make to your health. 2. Nothing in this world is universally good or universally bad: modern health goes through phases where it place things on extremes. Like ‘fat is bad’ - nothing in this world is universally good or universally bad - and we have to really understand this. Each food/practice has its contribution to our health and wellness - the key is understanding how much of each WE need and what we can do to balance ourselves out when we are imbalanced. So don’t demonise or glorify any one thing - see how it works in relation to you and your health. 3. Everything in moderation: In the modern world, when we make a new discovery we herald it as the prize-winning elixir of the year. And often we have too many of these elixirs making an appearance in the one year. And when we fight a new food laden with so many nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants - basically all the good stuff - we suddenly want to put it in everything and eat it all the time. Blueberries, goji berries, quinoa, avocados - any superfood that has come out in the last decade or so, will be found everywhere and people will be eating it ALL the time. But you can have too much of a good thing - and then that becomes a bad thing. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine

I’m looking out the window - it’s raining, windy and currently 18 degrees celcius. Very uncharacteristic of a Summer’s Day (but very characteristic of a British Summer’s Day!). So what you do when a Summer’s Day doesn’t look like a Summer’s Day? Should I still indulge in my ice cream and graze on my salads? No - especially if my body isn’t craving that! Listen to your body and eat intuitively! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #weatheroftheday #intuitiveliving #weatherchanges #seasonalregime #seasonalliving

This may be a controversial travel hack but for a smooth holiday, I always pack a few staple ingredients so I can cook a few comforting and soothing meals while I’m away. I know a lot of people go on holiday to take a break from cooking and have some time away from the kitchen, but as I get older, I’m realising that having good digestion and good health on my holiday is of utmost importance to me. And wherever we go, I may not get the meals that my body needs, so I’d rather go prepared. For me, a few minutes of preparation at home before we travel, and then 20-30 mins of time in the kitchen at our destination makes for healthy, comforting and nourishing meals that are perfect for what my digestion needs during a holiday. I normally pack some dry lentils and rice separately to make dal. Or some green split moong and rice together to make kichdi. Pack some dry spices in a jar. Take some ghee with me. And then at the destination - sautee the dry spices and some fresh ginger in the ghee, add in the dals/kichdi, salt and cook! But you do you - choose the spices that suit you, lentils and grains that you’re used to and cook them! Tell me - what things do you pack to ensure a smooth and healthy holiday! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #cook #holidayhacks #travelhacks #healthytravels #healthyholidays #cookingonholiday #cookingonvacation

One of the easiest and simplest things you can do right now to upscale your health is to 𝑪𝑶𝑶𝑲. It sounds simple, and it is, yet it can have a profound effect on your health. Our lives are run by convenience - and we’re often looking for shortcuts at every turn. And one of the first things to get cut short - is the time we spend in the kitchen. We’ll either get takeaways, frozen meals or processed foods and think that our time is better spent elswhere. But by doing this, we’re giving others the control over what goes into our bodies. Ingredient lists are becoming longer by the day, with new and hard-to-recognise ingredients staring at us everytime we look at nutrition labels. Rather than trying to figure out what these ingredients mean, why don’t we figure out what we can make with the ingredients in our kitchen. So #uncomplicatehealth and regain control over what goes into your body by COOKING! If you don’t know how to cook, then begin by learning a few basics - foods that are easy to make, that you enjoy and are nutritious. If you already cook, then make it a daily habit. If you already cook daily, then focus on using whole foods, fresh ingredients and avoid processed or packaged products. Wherever you are in your cooking journey - start there and see the profound impact this small act has on your overall wellbeing! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #cook #learntocook #cookforyourhealth #healthycooking

Do you get tired just after lunch? Always feel like taking a nap or reaching for an extra cup of coffee or tea? Try any of these instead!

Creamy Sage Pasta Ingredients: - 1/2 cup cashews - pasta of choice - handful fresh sage leaves chopped - 1/4 cup black kalamata olives sliced - 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes sliced - salt - butter - olive oil - hing (asafoetida) - chilli flakes - reserved pasta water Method: 1. Soak the cashews in boiling water for at least an hour. 2. Once the cashews have softened - blend in a high speed blender until a smooth creamy puree is formed - add small amounts of the soaked cashew water along the way to thin out the mixture to a creamy consistency. 3. Boil pasta of your choice till al dente - drain and reserve at least 1 cup of the pasta water. 4. In a pot, heat about 1/2 tablespoon of butter and olive oil. 5. Add in the asafoetida, chilli flakes, fresh sage leaves, olives and sundried tomatoes and give everything a stir. 6. Add in some cashew cream, the cooked pasta, some reserved pasta water and salt and mix everything well. Add more cream and pasta water if it looks too dry. 7. Offer with love and honour with gratitude! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #incompatiblefoods #viruddhara #nomilkandsalt #creamypasta #veganpastarecipe #sagecreampasta

I read this in @drdrbhaswati book last night and fell in love with the simplicity of how she explained things. It’s not hard to be healthy! We tend to overcomplicate things in the pursuit of good health. Keep it simple! Eat fresh food and cook your own meals. Doing these two things daily will do wonders for your health! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #listentoyourbody #cookfresh

Instead of reaching for a ‘cold’ drink from the fridge - try this ‘cooling’ infusion. Add a palmful of coriander seeds, fennel seeds, dried rose petals and dried hibiscus flowers to a tea strainer and pour with some boiling water. Leave to steep until the water comes to a room temperature or your can keep it overnight (on the window sill to catch the cooling rays of the moon 🌕) ready for a cool drink the next day. It’s a really forgiving infusion so if you don’t have all the ingredients at home, just make it with whatever you have. All of them have cooling properties which are perfect to keep you cool on the inside to beat the heat! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #coolthatpitta #summerinfusion #herbalteas #coolingherbalteas #hibiscus #rose

So you’ve heard me say time and time again to listen to your body - but what does that actually mean? 🤷🏽‍♀️ how can we translate this theory into practical application? Ayurveda to the rescue again! Ayurveda speaks of 14 urges of the body which we should not suppress nor encourage. For doing so repeatedly over time can cause serious health complications. So we can use these 14 urges as tools to help us listen to our body. As these urges arise, listen to them and respond accordingly. See them as signs your body is talking to you. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below! 👇🏽 #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda#holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #urgesofthebody #vegavidharana #listentoyourbody #naturescalling #callofnature

Did you ever think how our health gets imbalanced as we get older? One of the reasons this happens is because we ignore the various urges of our body. We should take a leaf out of babies books and respond to the urge as it comes up! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #urgesofthebody #vegavidharana #listentoyourbody #naturescalling #callofnature

Join me and a few other teachers during the August Bank holiday weekend for an Ayurveda & The Elements Retreat. We’ll look at 🧘🏽 tailoring yoga practice to your Ayurvedic constitution 😊 I’ll be conducting a thorough workshop on understanding your prakriti and learning how to see the doshas at play within and around us 💆🏽‍♀️ I’ll also be doing an Ayurvedic massage workshop There will be other teachers to facilitate mantra, meditations and pranayama, the opportunity to go for a wild swim, nourish yourself with Ayurvedic meals and just connect to nature. 📅 August 23-26 2024 📍 Hardwick Estate, South Oxfordshire 🎟️ a variety available from the link in bio Excite to see you there! #yoga #ayurveda #sadhamayoga

#AD Did you know that what’s on your tongue 👅 is an indication of what’s going on inside your body? Tongue analysis or Jihva-Pariksha is one of the 8 methods of clinical examination in Ayurveda. It’s a whole detailed science, but here are a few things you can learn to correspond areas on your tongue to different areas of your body. And one of the best things you can do to keep your gut healthy is scrape your tongue every morning. This one from @arista.care is excellent. Made from strong and durable 100% copper - it’s clean, safe and suits all body types according to Ayurveda. A few tips about scraping your tongue: 👅 do it first thing in the morning - after brushing your teeth. And then rinse your mouth out with water. 👅 start from the back of your tongue, closest to your throat, and scrape forward and down to the tip of your tongue. Use gentle but firm pressure. Repeat this 2-3 times and you’ll see a white film develop on the inside of the tongue scraper. Rinse this off with water and scrape your tongue another few times until little or no white film develops. 👅 just keep it to a morning routine and avoid scraping your tongue in the evening. Tongue scraping stimulates your internal organs and digestion so it’s ideal for the morning, but not necessary in the evening when you want to wind down and rest the body. Image from Dr Vasant Lad’s book - Textbook of Ayurveda Volume 2. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #tonguescraping #jihvapariksha #tongueanalysis

Thank you to the brilliant @chaitanyacharanofficial for giving us such a practical way to introspect and thus navigate our inner world. If you struggle with journalling, then definitely give this a try. #journaling #introspection #calmvata #calmyourmind

Karela-Cashews-Raisins Ingredients: - 5-6 karela (bitter gourd/melon) - salt - hing (asafoetida) - turmeric powder - red chilli powder - cumin-coriander powder - raisins - dessicated coconut, chickpea flour, sambhar masala - mixed together (rough ratio of 1 tablespoon: 1 tablespoon: 1 teaspoon) - fresh coriander Method: 1. Roughly peel the bumpy skin of the bitter gourd - some skin can stay on, just make sure the upraised portions are peeled off. 2. Cut in half length-ways, remove the seeds and then cut into smaller pieces. 3. Place the chopped bitter gourd into a bowl, sprinkle on 1 teaspoon of salt and massage well. Allow to sit for at least 10-15 mins to remove excess water. 4. Squeeze the excess water out from the karela. 5. In a wide saucepan, heat some oil and roast the cashews until golden brown. Once toasted, remove the cashews and keep to the side. 6. In the same pan, add more oil if need be, about 1/4 teaspoon of hing (asafoetida) and the salted karela. Mix well, add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Mix well and cover, and let it all cook for a few minutes. 7. Add in 1.5 teaspoons red chilli powder, 2 teaspoons cumin-coriander powder, the toasted cashews and raisins. Mix well and cover - let this cook for another 3-5 minutes. 8. Remove the lid and add in the dry mixture of dessicated coconut, chickpea flour and sambhar masala. Mix well and cook until the karela are soft and tender. Garnish with fresh coriander. 9. Serve with hot rotli, offer with love and honour with gratitude. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #guthealth #listentoyourgut #appetite #karela #bittergourd #bitterrecipes

So @shyam_govinda thinks I have a monopoly over the meal planning process - so in an effort to involve him more - here’s what happened this week. Also - I don’t mind I get to do 100% of the cooking - please don’t come @ us for not sharing the cooking - this works for our household! #couples #humour #desicouple #mealplanning

Digestion is everything in Ayurveda, you’ve heard that time and time again. But did you know that one of the best predictors of a good digestion is having a good appetite? A strong hunger - from deep within your stomach. Not the ‘my-eyes-are-hungry-because-the-food-looks-good’ sort of appetite. Another example how we need to learn to cut through all the noise and start learning to listen to our body. Listen to your appetite - and before you sit down to eat a meal - ask yourself - AM I HUNGRY #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #guthealth #listentoyourgut #appetite

‘Fancy’ Friday Vegetables Ingredients: - chopped veggies of your choice (I used carrots, green beans, cauliflower, frozen peans and yellow capsicum) - paneer (cubed) (can replace with tofu to make it vegan) - ghee (can replace with oil to make it vegan) - 1/4 teaspoon hing (asafoetida) - 2 small green chillies - 1 inch piece of ginger - 1.5 teaspoons cumin seeds - 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds - 2 teaspoons coriander seeds - 1 dried red chilli - 1 star anise - 2 green cardamom - 2 cloves - 1 small piece cinnamon - 1 black cardamom - 1/4 cup cabbage chopped - 3-4 tomatoes chopped - 1/3 cup cashews - 2 teaspoons salt - 1.5 teaspoons red chilli powder - 1 teaspoon turmeric powder - dried kasuri methi - coriander to garnish Method: 1. To prepare the gravy: sautee all the whole spices, asafoetida, fresh chillies and ginger in 1 tablespoon ghee until they become golden brown and aromatic. 2. To this, add in the chopped cabbage, fresh tomatoes and cashews - mix everything well. Cover and let it cook for about 10 minutes until the mixture is soft and you can see the ghee start to separate from the tomatoes. You may need to keep checking and stirring the mixture every few minutes until it is done. Allow the mixture to thoroughly cool, and then blend to a smooth paste - add water if it feels too thick. 3. Wash and chop the veggies and paneer of your choice. Start cooking the veggies in quick succession (keep in mind what takes longer to cook and add this first). Allow them to cook covered until tender but firm. 4. Once the vegetables are cooked, add in the blended gravy to the vegetables, along with the red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt. Stir through gently, making sure everything is well mixed but being careful not to break the vegetables or paneer. You may need to add more water to clean out the blender jar and reduce the thickness of the gravy. 5. Crush the dried kasuri methi with your hands and add it to the vegetables + gravy mixture. Stir well and allow everything to come to a simmer. 6. Garnish with fresh coriander, serve with hot parathas or rice, offer with love and honour with gratitude.

This is one of my favourite lessons from Ayurveda. An explanation of how our body gets imbalanced. And the way it happens is so simple - so simple that we might even miss it. It’s another example of how doing simple little things everyday - like using our senses in a regulated manner - makes a HUGE difference in our health over a long period of time. Sometimes we think there’s too many restrictions in Ayurveda - we should eat like this, sleep at this time, do this, don’t do that - but it’s little things that set us up for good health for a lifetime. It’s our protection from getting sick. So let’s all learn to come back to the basics, listen to our body and act on our natural and intelligent cravings. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #introspection #conqueringmaterialnature #selfhelptips #selfimprovement #prajnaaparadha #parinama #asatmendriyarthasamyoga #causesofdisease

Many times, we are our own biggest enemies. How? Inherently, we know what is good for us. We know what we should eat and what we should avoid. We know we need to exercise. We know we should meditate. We know we should stress less. We know we should spend less time on our screens. Yet we still ignore what we know and do the opposite. We choose takeaway instead of cooking at home 🙈 We choose finishing the never-ending pile of work instead of going for a walk. We choose to stress over things we have no control over, instead of letting it go. We choose one more episode on Netflix instead of an earlier bed time. Of course once in a while, making the wrong choice is ok. But what about the times when we knowingly (or unknowingly) make the poorer choice, then first hand experience it’s negative consequences, but then still go on to make that poor choice - time and time again. It happens to all of us! This is prajna-aparadha - or crimes against our own wisdom or intellect. And according to Ayurveda this is one of the three main causes of disease. Have you ever succumbed to this? If so, let me know in the comments below. AND keep an eye out for part two where @shyam_govinda will share some wisdom on HOW we can avoid this! It’s great knowing how the mistakes happen but it’s even better knowing what we can do to avoid making them in the first place! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #introspection #conqueringmaterialnature #selfhelptips #selfimprovement

Khandvi Ingredients: - 3 cups buttermilk (made by mixing 1 cup yoghurt and 2 cups water) - 1 cup chickpea flour - salt - turmeric powder Tempering: - oil - mustard seeds - hing (asafoetida) - cumin seeds - sesame seeds - dessicated coconut - red chilli powder - coriander leaves Method: 1. Mix the chickpea flour, buttermilk, salt and turmeric well - using a whisk at first and then a hand/immersion blender to ensure there are no lumps. 2. Stir this mixture constantly (in a wide, thick-bottom saucepan) on low heat to ensure it cooks through and there are no lumps. You may need to use an immersion blender while cooking to ensure everything is mixed well and there are no lumps. You will see it thicken. 3. To check with the mixture is ready, spread a small amount on a clean counter top or the back of a metal plate/baking tray - once spread, let it cool and then see if it peels back smoothly. If it lifts off the surface cleanly without sticking, then the khandvi mixture is ready. If not, then return the mixture to the heat and keep cooking for longer. It should take about 15-20mins (total) on the heat. 4. Once the khandvi mixture is ready, spread it as thinly as possibly on clean countertops or the back of baking trays. Once the entire mixture has been spread out, cut into wides strips (about 1.5 inches wide) and roll gently from one end (just as if you would roll a yoga mat). We found it easier to cut one strip and then roll it, rather than cut them all and then roll them all. 5. Once your khandvi rolls are ready, you can cut the rolls into smaller pieces and arrange neatly on a serving plate. Sprinkle with red chilli powder. 6. Prepare your tempering by heating the oil in a small saucepan. Once hot, add in the mustard seeds, allow them to crackle and then quickly add in the asafoetida, cumin seeds and sesame seeds. Turn off the heat in 30sec-1min. 7. Spoon the tempering all over the rolled khandvi. Dust with dessicated coconut and garnish with coriander. 8. Offer with love and honour with gratitude! #khandvi #gujaratisnacks #highproteinsnacks #vegetariangujaratirecipes

For the past few months I’ve been more or less consistently practicing yoga three times a week. And all of this has only been possible because I commit to a one-on-one class with a teacher based in India. Dipika ben is a simple lady from Ahemdabad, who teaches me yoga. She’s not on social media, I actually found out about her from my grandfather (who she used to teach in person in Ahmedabad) and then my mother (who does online classes with her in Australia). But because of the committment to a class and more specifically a teacher, I was able to be regular with my yoga practice. We do the different asanas, pranayamas and also include a bit of laughter therapy at the end of every class. If you’re like me and need the push of a teacher to keep you going, then seek out a teacher in your local area, or see if there’s anyone who does classes online that you can attend. Sharing some of my favourite yoga teachers on social media (the ones who teach online) (if I’ve missed some, tag them in the comments and I’ll keep editing the caption to include them) below: @the_groundedyogi @yogawithjaina @guna.therapy @suhita.ayurveda @thetherapeuticyogi @roootedindia @vickstorrm @jai.gopali @joy_in_yoga @lotusyoga.108 #yoga #ayurveda #internationalyogaday #discipline #teachers #yogateachers

Tindora-Bateta Nu Shaak (Ivy Gourd and Potato Subji) (Sorry there aren’t any measurements! Completely forgot to measure! But hope you can figure it out through the video!) Ingredients: - tindora (ivy gourd) - small potato - neutral oil - asafoetida - salt - turmeric powder - red chilli powder - cumin-coriander powder - coriander leaves to garnish Method: 1. Wash the ivy gourd well and then keep submerged in a bowl of water. 2. Cut the ends of the ivy gourd and place back in the water. Then cut into thin strips. 3. Wash and peel the potatoes and cut into strips of a similar size to the ivy gourd. 4. Heat a wide saucepan to medium heat. 5. Add in 1-2 tablespoons of oil. Once the oil is hot, add in 1/4 teaspoon of asafoetida powder. 6. Add in the chopped ivy gourd and potato. Stir well. 7. Add in the salt and turmeric powder. Stir well and cover. Let the vegetables cook for 5-7 minutes on medium heat. 8. Check to see if the vegetables are cooked by piercing a knife through the potatoes - they should be soft. If they’re not cooked, return the lid back on the pot and continue cooking. It should take around 15 minutes of cooking time with the lid on the pot for the vegetables to be completely cooked. Keeep checking and stirring well to make sure they don’t stick to the bottom of the pot. 9. Once cooked, add in the cumin-coriander powder and red chilli powder and give it a final good mix. 10. Keep on the heat for a further 2 minutes with the lid off. 11. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Offer with love, serve with hot rotli and enjoy! #ivygourd #tindora #gujjumeals #vegetariangujaratirecipes #ayurvedicrecipes #simpleindianfood #gharkakhaana #everydayindiancooking

Have you ever noticed a particular vulnerable or weak spot in your body? That always flares up just before you get sick? There’s an explanation for that in Ayurveda - Khavaigunya! Let me know if you have any questions understanding or figuring out your Khavaigunya. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda

Constipation Aids while you travel: 🥝 eat local and seasonal fruits as a snack ☕ cup of hot water at the beginning and end of the day - can boost this by adding in a herbal tea bag (ginger is best at stimulating digestion) 🚶🏽‍♀️lots of walking 🧈1 teaspoon ghee in a cup of hot water (in severe cases, can replace the ghee with castor oil) 🍑a few prunes or 1 stewed apples as a snack 🥖 limit the amount of processed foods, breads, cheese and meat that you’re eating What else keeps you regular 💩 when you travel? #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #travelandayurveda #ayurvedictraveltips #constipationrelief

Travelling is fun - but it may not always be fun for your body. These are some simple things I do to keep my body and mind healthy and happy while I travel. Is there anything else that you do to stay healthy while you travel? #travelandayurveda #ayurvedicroutine #travelswitzerland #stayinghealthywhiletraveling #travelroutine #practicalayurveda #realayurveda #makingayurvedasimple #simpleayurveda

Fortunate are those that can eat a meal cooked by their mother ❤️ Friday’s thali: Khandvi Karela-cashew-raisins Whole urad dal Rice Rotli Mango Thank you @zakirkhan_208 for the beautiful audio. #maakehaathkakhana #motherscooking #motherslove #mumsfoodisthebest #thali #thaliinspiration #khandvi #karela

Ragi Gol Papdi/Sukhdi Ingredients: - 1/2 cup ghee (we could have gotten away with a little less) - 1 cup ragi flour - 3/4 cup jaggery (try to use natural/desi jaggery - it will be darker and softer) - 1/2 teaspoon dry ginger powder - splash of milk - fennel seeds to garnish Method: 1. Warm the ghee in a heavy botton saucepan or wok-style pan. 2. Once the ghee is warm, add in the ragi flour and dry ginger powder and stir continuously. It’ll take about 7-10 minutes for the ragi to get cooked - you should start to smell the nutty aroma of the ragi flour, and the mixture will become lighter and airier as the flour gets cooked. Add in a splash of milk towards the end (this prevents the end result from becoming too hard). 3. Add in the jaggery and turn the heat off. A lot of people also grate the jaggery in to ensure it’s mixed in uniformly. 4. Mix well and then pour into a tray - since our mixture had a little too much ghee, we didn’t need to grease the tray. If you’re using less ghee than I mentioned, you might want to grease the tray with a bit more ghee. 5. Flatten using the back of a spatula or small bowl. Sprinkle with fennel seeds, flatten again. 6. Cut into squares. Allow it to cool. Break into pieces, offer with love and honour with gratitude. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #ayurvedicrecipes #glutenfreesweets #golpapdi #sukhdi #indianglutenfreesweets #nourishingsnacks #ayurvedicsweets #ragiflour #ragirecipes

Talking Ayurveda, conception, pregnancy and postpartum with @dhyana.masla

When you introduce the topic of whether something is heating or cooling - everyone always wants a list - of course lists are helpful when you’re beginning your journey to understanding the potency or virya of foods. But as you discover more of Ayurveda, you’ll find that knowing whether something is heating or cooling is inherent in us. We need to see how it tastes, how it feels in our mouth and body - to determine whether something is hot or cold for us. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #ayurvedicrecipes #hotandcold #virya #heating #cooling #ayurvedicnutrition

Do ever get confused with heating and cooling foods? Here’s a simple little guide to understand it from an Ayurvedic perspective - remember we’re not trying to correlate this with Western science - just because modern science doesn’t have a corresponding term to explain the Ayurvedic principle of virya - doesn’t mean it’s not validated. We need to understand Ayurveda as Ayurveda and not try to impose other world views on this vast science. Let me know if you have any questions about Virya - or the heating and cooling potency - and I’ll try to answer them in a future post. #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda

Three main marma points on your head: 1. Start at the midpoint between your eyebrows and measure back 10 fingerwidths OR you can also find this point by placing the base of your palm on the eyebrows and reach back to where the middle finger touches. This is the Mūrdhni or Adhipati marma. 2. Come forward two fingerwidths and this is the Brahmarandhra. 3. Now move back 4 fingerwidths and this is the Shivarandhra. Massage each point with gentle to medium pressure - clockwise stimulates the energy flow while anti-clockwise pacifies and calms the flow of energy in the body. Begin your head massage with a few basic strokes (depicted in the previous video) and then move to the marma points. Marma points are the junction points of vata, pitta and kapha. They are also where tendons, bones, muscles, joints, veins, nerves, and other tissues meet. They’re situated on the nādis or subtle energy channels of the body so stimulating these points helps to clear blockages within the subtle layers of the body facilitating physical, mental and emotional healing. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #ayurvedicrecipes #listentoyourbody #ayurvedicliving #ayurvedicheadmassage #indianheadmassage #headmassage #headmassagetechniques #marmamassage

Simple Head Massage Techniques: 1. You can start off with a circular motion, to encourage more blood flow to the scalp. Do this for at least 1-2 minutes while you focus on bringing your mind back to the present, and ultimately help to quieten it. 2. Then imagine your head to be like a big football and gently squeeze it from both sides with both hands. Gently hold down with firm pressure for 5-7 seconds and then release - squeeze from the front and back, as well as from both sides. Repeat this for a minute or two. 3. Then using your fingertips, start at your hairline and run your fingers in a zigzag motion through your hair from the top of your forehead down to the base of your neck - do this thoroughly so you’re covering the entirety of your scalp. Repeat this so you’re combing your fingers through your hair, but this time start at the base of your neck and work your way up to the top of your forehead. Best Oils to Use: @reikabotanics @theayurvedicmum #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #ayurvedicrecipes #listentoyourbody #ayurvedicliving #ayurvedicheadmassage #indianheadmassage #headmassage #headmassagetechniques

Health is so much more than a checklist of doing this or doing that. At the crux of good health is: listening to your body. And your body is always changing, so your habits should reflect this. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #ayurvedicrecipes #listentoyourbody #ayurvedicliving

Remember this is what works for me. Whenever I get sick, I generally know my pattern of illness - a really runny nose, stuffy head, real lack of energy and just generally feeling unwell. I usually don’t get a cough or sore throat. So everything I do, I’ve been putting into practice for a few years and this is what suits and supports me when I’m sick. Figure out what is the pattern of illness when YOU get sick, and implement herbal remedies to suit that. Here’s everything that I do when I get sick: - herbal tea with fresh ginger, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and clove - add in some local honey once the tea is at a drinkable temperature - I take Echinacea tablets - these are great at supporting the immune system when you have a cold or flu - Meals are light and easy-to-digest. Soups, kichdi, roasted veggies, mung dal - doTerra OnGuard essential oil blend as an extra immune support - steam inhalation with eucalyptus oil - first thing in the morning and last thing before I go to bed - sudarshan + ajwain decoction - an Ayurvedic remedy that my family have been using since I was a child - 𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁! 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 (𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲!). 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 - 𝘀𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #ayurvedicrecipes #ayurvedaandspring #kaphatea #mucusremedies #coldsandfluremedies #toomuchmucus #ayurvedictea #ayurvedicimmunetea

Spring Clean Out Tea/Get-Better Tea - 1 cardamom pod - 3 cloves - small piece of cinnamon - 5 black peppercorns - 1 inch piece fresh ginger - pinch turmeric powder - honey to taste Crush the cardamom, cloves, black pepper, cinnamon and fresh ginger in a mortar and pestle. Add to 1 cup of boiling water - reduce to a simmer and keep on the heat for 3 minutes. Add 1 pinch turmeric powder and allow to simmer for a further 2 minutes. Take off the heat, strain into a mug. Once the tea is at a drinkable temperature, add a teaspoon of raw, local honey and sip! All the ingredients in the tea are warming which help to liquefy and melt the mucus. Honey has a special scraping effect which helps to pull everything out of the body. Sip this tea twice a day when you feel a little under-the-weather or have a lot of mucus and congestion in your body. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #ayurvedicrecipes #ayurvedaandspring #kaphatea #mucusremedies #coldsandfluremedies #toomuchmucus #ayurvedictea #ayurvedicimmunetea

A lot of people asked for foods to favour when there’s an excess of mucus in the body. So here’s that list! Share it with someone who constantly has a runny nose! #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #toomuchmucus #runnynoseremedy #coldremedy

Ayurveda says to cook each meal fresh everyday. You and I both know that’s not going to happen. So what’s the next best thing? Planning and meal prep is definitely a way to go, but sometimes we don’t always cook exactly the right quantities (me pretty much everyday). And then we end up with leftovers. The not-wanting-to-waste food vs leftovers-have-no-Prana is a constant debate I’m playing out in my head. I hate food waste but I also know that food that is a day old doesn’t have much life left in it. So I’ll try to: ✔️ Pack some for friends and neighbours ✔️ Reheat the next day on the gas with some ghee and warming spices Other times we may know that the upcoming days are busy and we won’t get time to cook - we can stress out about this, plan to wake up at ungodly hours so we can cook fresh - or we can look after our mental and physical health and cook extra the day before. Yes I know that leftover food has no Prana or life energy in it, but at least you know what you’ve put in the meal, at least you’ve cooked with loving intentions and you know it’s food that will suit your body. So we know the ideal, but let’s not get carried away by it and try to implement it immediately. Look at your life and circumstances. Do the best you can with the situation you have. Take baby steps. Maybe you’ll aim to cook fresh three times a week if at the moment you’re only cooking fresh once a week. Maybe you’ll focus on fresh lunches and have the leftovers for dinner. 
Maybe you’ll focus on the quantities you’re cooking to work on getting the right proportions for most of your meals. Start where you are. #naturalrhythm #followthesun #agni #digestion #healthygut #healthydigestion #practicalayurveda #ayurvedaeveryday #livingayurveda #holistichealth #healyourgut #traditionalmedicine #naturalhealth #mindbodysoulwellness #practicingayurveda #ayurvedicrecipes #ayurvedaandleftovers #leftovers #stopfoodwaste #nofoodwaste #reducefoodwaste

Ayurveda is so beautiful in the way it teaches us what to eat and what to avoid at certain times in our lives. Using the 20 qualities or gunas that are described in Ayurveda is a great way to figure out: (a) what’s going on in your body and then (b) what you can do to keep yourself in balance Remember like increases like and opposites balance. Use this to figure out what you should be eating/doing and what things you should be avoiding. Here are the 20 qualities: Heavy - Light Slow (Dull) - Sharp (Penetrating) Cold - Hot Oily - Dry Smooth - Rough Dense - Liquid Soft - Hard Stable - Mobile Gross - Subtle Cloudy (Sticky) - Clear #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #listentoyourbody #bodyintuition #healthycravings #understandingayurveda #avoidingcoldsandflus #mucus #mucogenic #kapha #kaphapacifying

I haven’t used onions and garlic in my cooking for a long time and I don’t miss them one bit! Of course both have many amazing medicinal qualities but we have to look at how much we’re consuming them and the overall purpose of our life. Ayurveda exists to help us be healthy individuals - it’s not a spiritual science. But if you choose to prioritise your spiritual wellbeing, then you need to create habits that will help support that aim. When onions and garlic are eaten in excess, they agitate and over-stimulate the mind. Spiritual practices are focused on calming the mind. So the two kind of exist at opposite ends of the spectrum. If you’re looking to minimise the amount of onions and garlic you consume, then here are some alternatives: 🧄 garlic is used mainly for it’s taste - I often use hing (asafoetida) instead of garlic in most recipes 🧅 to help mimic the texture and crunch of onions, I often use thinly sliced cabbage or fennel Let me know if you have any other questions about onions and garlic below! #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #listentoyourbody #bodyintuition #healthycravings #understandingayurveda #noonionnogarlic #alliumfree #onionsandgarlic #noonionsandgarlic

Spring Cleaning - marketing gimmick or is there actually merit to the saying? A cluttered home can contribute to a cluttered mind and vice versa. So while you’re focusing on cleansing your body and mind in an Ayruvedic way, don’t forget your home too! Now I’m no organisation expert, but here are a few tips that might help you: 📝 Make a list before you start so you have a clear idea in your head of exactly what you need to do - otherwise when you start to clean one thing without knowing what you’re doing next can create a whole host of anxieties! 🏠 Focus on one room/area of the house at a time. Don’t be like me and open one drawer, take EVERYTHING out, get bored and then move onto another room/area. That drawer isn’t going to organise and fill itself! 🌿 Try and switch to natural cleaning products as much as possible. Do your research and choose brands that resonate with your values, or even have a go at making your own! Essential oils + white vinegar + water are a great place to start! 😀 Start with your least favourite part of cleaning first, that way you’re likely to get it over and done with before you move on to more *cough* enjoyable parts of cleaning. What other suggestions do you have to make Spring Cleaning more efficient and dare I say, FUN! #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #listentoyourbody #bodyintuition #healthycravings #understandingayurveda #springandayurveda #ritucharya #ayurvedaandspring #ayurvedicspringcleanse #ayurvedicspringdetox #springcleaning #springclean

Happy Birthday to the person who knows me better than I know myself. Who has a heart so big that he’s always thinking about the welfare and progress of others before he thinks of himself. Who is the best at encouraging others, helping them understand their nature and figure out their purpose. Who does everything with care and attention. And does things with the right intention. Who forgives and is quick to move on. Who is constantly working on himself. Who thinks deeply about the important things in life, and shares those thoughts with the world, in an effort you help as many as he can. I’m grateful to have you in my life, as my best friend and husband. Wishing you only the best for the year to come. ❤️ @shyam_govinda

Don’t blame the change in seasons for your colds and flus! Be proactive and support your body by doing a little cleanse in between seasons! #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #listentoyourbody #bodyintuition #healthycravings #understandingayurveda #springandayurveda #ritucharya #ayurvedaandspring #ayurvedicspringcleanse #ayurvedicspringdetox

Chickpea flour pudlas: - 1.5 cups chickpea flour - 1/2 cup each of at least 2-3 different vegetables - grated is easiest (choose from carrot, zucchini, dudhi (bottle gourd), chopped spinach, coriander, cabbage, corn, broccoli etc) - 1.5 teaspoons salt - 1 teaspoon turmeric powder - 1/4 teaspoon black salt (kala namak) - 2-3 finely chopped green chillies (optional) - water as needed - ghee or oil of your choice Chutney: - handful of washed coriander - handful of washed mint - 1-2 green chillies (optional) - 5-6 walnuts - 1/2 lime - salt to taste Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth - add water to help bring it all together. Method: 1. Combine all the ingredients except the water, and mix well. If it looks dry, then add water as needed to bring it to a batter-like consistency. 2. Heat a skillet/cast-iron pan to medium. 3. Once hot, add in some ghee/oil and ladle in a spoon of the batter (I find it easier to make smaller and thicker fritter-like pudlas). Cover with a saucepan lid to help everything cook faster. 4. Once you start to see bubbles appear on the top and the pudla start to dry out and cook a bit, flip to cook on the other side. Cover again with the lid and allow to cook for a few more minutes before taking off the heat. 5. Offer with love, and serve with a green coriander-mint chutney. #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #listentoyourbody #bodyintuition #healthycravings #understandingayurveda #springandayurveda #ritucharya #ayurvedaandspring

We’re told to listen to our body. And honour the cravings that arise. But what if we crave three doughnuts for breakfast? Or feel like we HAVE to watch just one more episode even though it’s so late? Our body will crave whatever will maintain its status quo. So if you’re in a stat of balance - you’ll crave healthy things. But if you’re in a state of imbalance - then your cravings won’t nourish you as they should. #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #listentoyourbody #bodyintuition #healthycravings #understandingayurveda

Who else uses this trick? #couplereels #relatableayurveda #whatsfordinner #whatshouldimake #desicouple

Spring is here! (And hopefully here to stay 🤞🏽) As we constantly reach for our phone for notifications and reminders, let’s learn to look out for Nature’s notifications. What are the changes in Spring trying to tell us? How should we modify our diet and lifestyle to suit this new season? 

For more tips like this, be sure to sign onto my FREE Spring Workshop that’s on next week - Tuesday 26th March 8pm UK Time. Link is in my bio. #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #ayurvedaandspring #ritucharya #springandayurveda #ayurvedicspringcleanse #ayurvedicspringtips #listentonature

Just like we change our clothes depending on the weather, we should change our diet and lifestyle too! Ayurveda stresses the importance of living in sync with nature and her rhythms and living seasonally is one of the best ways to do that. Join this free online workshop to: 🌷Understand what is happening in Spring (outside us and inside us) 🌷Know the best dietary practices to adopt 🌷Find out what lifestyle changes we can make to harmonise with Spring Link 🔗 in Bio! Can’t wait to see you online next week! #ayurveda #springandayurveda #ayurvedainspring #ritucharya #ritusandhi #practicalayurveda

Millet and Chocolate sweet White Chocolate with pistachios and cranberries Ingredients: - 1/4 cup each puffed quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth - 1/4 cup pistachios shelled - 1/4 cup cranberries - 1 block white cooking chocolate Dark Chocolate with macadamias and apricot - 3/4 cup puffed amaranth - handful of macadamia nuts - handful of dried apricots chopped - 1 block dark cooking chocolate Method (for both): 1. Start melting the chocolate in a double boiled method on low heat until is melted. 2. While the chocolate is melting, toast the puffed millets and nuts in the oven at 100 C for about 10mins or until slightly aromatic. 3. Allow the puffed millets and nuts to cool, roughly chop the nuts. 4. Add the puffed millets, chopped nuts and dried fruit to the melted chocolate. Mix well. 5. Place in a tray lined with greaseproof paper and pat down to a block shape. Sprinkle sea salt on the dark chocolate version if you wish. 6. Place in the fridge for a few hours to harden up. Cut into squares. 7. Offer with love, and honour with gratitude. #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #homemadesweets #homemadechocolatesnacks #homemadeisbest #michaelpollan #eatrealfood

Want to know what to do to recorrect an imbalanced digestion? 1. Simple meals - well cooked veggies, whole grains and lentils. Well spices. Familiar foods. 2. Fasting 3. CCF tea 4. Avoid processed foods #ayurveda #practicalayurveda #guthealth #digestivehealth #ayurvedicdigestion #ayurvedictips #smellyfarts

Does this ever happen to you? #kichdi #ayurveda #practicalayurveda #foodhumour #desicouple #reallife

Fresh Tomato Sauce Pasta Recipe Ingredients: - 1 red capsicum - 1 carrot - 3 ripe tomatoes - olive oil - dried mixed herbs - dried or fresh thyme leaves - salt - black pepper - hing (asafoetida) - chilli flakes - pasta - fresh basil Method: 1. Wash and chop the tomatoes, carrot and red capsicum. Place them on a baking tray, coat with olive oil, salt, pepper, dried herbs and thyme leaves - massage well and then place in the oven at 200 degrees celcius for about 20-25 minutes or until slightly charred. 2. Once the vegetables are cooked, allow them to cool and then blend until smooth. 3. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil, add in a teaspoon of salt and place the pasta in the boiling water. Cook according to packet instructions until al dente. 4. In another saucepan, heat some olive oil, add in the hing (asafoetida) and chilli flakes and allow to temper for 1 minute. Add in the blended vegetables and mix well. Add in salt, turn the heat to low and cover. Cook until you see the oil separate from the sauce. 5. Drain the pasta and reserve some pasta water. Add in the cooked pasta to the sauce and add in pasta water as needed to loosen everything up. Top with fresh basil leaves. 6. Offer with love and honour with gratitude. #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #tinnedfoods #freshnottinned #pastasauce #veganpastarecipe #vegetarianpastarecipe #veganayurvedicrecipe

While we celebrate women a little extra today #internationalwomensday let’s use this day as a reminder to honour and remember the original woman: Mother Nature. Listening to her rhythms and cues on a daily basis can be the best investment we make to our health as women. #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #internationalwomensday #womenandayurveda #ayurvedaandwomenshealth #listentomothernature #mothernature #listentonature

Ekadasi Ramen Ingredients: - lemongrass, ginger, chillies and fresh turmeric - Ekadasi hing (pure asafoetida) if available - veggies: carrots, capsicum, pak choi and broccoli - paneer - coconut milk/creamed coconut - buckwheat noodles (or sweet potato noodles) - oil - salt and pepper - jaggery - limes, roasted and crushed peanuts, chillies (optional), fresh coriander Method: 1. Make the base of the soup paste by blending the fresh lemongrass, turmeric root, ginger and green chillies with some water. 2. Chop the paneer into cubes and saute in some oil with salt and pepper and stir-fry until golden brown. Set aside. 3. Prep all the veggies by slicing in strips and sauteeing separately in oil. Season with salt while sauteeing and then set aside. 4. Make the coconut soup by sauteeing the Ekadasi hing and the lemongrass paste in some oil. Cook on low heat and once you can see the oil start to separate, then add the creamed coconut or coconut milk and gently stir. Allow this to come to a simmer. Add in the jaggery, salt and pepper, allow to come to a final boil and then switch off. 5. Cook the buckwheat/sweet potato noodles as per packet instructions. 6. Assemble the ramen bowl by placing the noodles in the centre, ladle a few spoons of the coconut milk soup on top. Place the paneer and sauteed veggies all around and garnish with the remainder of the toppings: roasted peanuts, lime juice, chopped coriander and chilli if using. 7. Offer with love and honour with gratitude! #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #ekadasi #vratkirrecipe #ekadasirecipes #fastingrecipes #scienceofekadasi #ayurvedicrecipes

Farts always cause laughing fits when they happen - farting is normal - but when they’re smelly, that’s when your digestion is imbalanced. Your body is trying to tell you something. Let’s learn to look out for these small signs so we can use our body’s own intelligence to help us heal. #ayurveda #naturalmedicine #naturalhealing #listentoyourbody #farts #fartsarenatural #smellyfarts #poordigestion #guthealth #listentoyourgut

Being “into Ayurveda” isn’t a life of this or that. It’s a balancing act - learning how to balance how you feel with the environment around you. What else did I miss about being “into Ayurveda”? #ayurveda #ayurvedamemes #ayurvedainreallife #realayurveda #trendingreels #practicalayurveda #funnyayurveda

A lot of people need their morning brew before their bowels begin to wake up. While this practice may be comforting and ensure you’ve cleaned out your insides, it could be damaging your intestines more than you’re aware of. If you’re in this category, work towards decreasing your dependence on tea and coffee as a stimulant to move your bowels. It may be uncomfortable at first, you may end up feeling constipated from not having moved your bowels - but be patient and persist. A good wholesome diet, adequate nourishing fats and oils, exercise and plenty of water - will all go a long way in helping you become regular and reduce your reliance on tea and coffee as a stimulant. Plus there are many natural laxative alternatives if you need any extra help in getting things moving. Remember when you want to adopt a more positive habit and it requires you to let go of a habit which doesn’t serve you, do it in a gradual way. #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #tea #masalachai #ayurvedicchai #chocolate #coffee #matcha #greentea #ayurvedaandcaffeine

Most natural sources of caffeine like tea (whether green or black), coffee and chocolate affect the body in similar ways - some more intense than others. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗹: 𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁/𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗱𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀. If you can handle them in small doses, then check out the best ways to incorporate them into your diet so they work for you rather than against you. ☕source good sources of your tea/coffee/cacao/matcha etc - good farming and processing techniques will mean there’s potentially less chemical pollutants entering your body ☕try and have it before 10am, at the latest before midday. Before 10am is the kapha time period - when there is a natural heaviness and stagnantion in the external environment - so the stimulating nature of your caffeine will help bring some movement and action in this time. And before midday so you’re less likely to disrupt your body’s circadian rhythm ☕having it with milk with reduce the overall acidic nature and heat of your beverage ☕have your beverage after having eaten something (not on an empty stomach) ☕when it comes to cacao/chocolate - cacao on it’s own (without the sugar) has the health benefits. The moment it’s processed with lots of sugar and additives, you get the harm associated with those ingredients. Favour using cacao in its natural form and include it in ingredients yourself so you can control what else goes in and how much of it. ☕be creative with the way you make black tea - chai is best and you can play around with so many different spices (ginger, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, fennel, ajwain, lemongrass, mint, black pepper, rose) these spices come with their own set of medicinal properties.

Ok here’s a pretty comprehensive summary of coffee, how to best consume it depending on your natural constitution, coffee alternatives etc. #‪makingayurvedasimple #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #coffee #ayurvedaandcoffee #coffeeaddiction #coffeealternatives #ilovecoffee #ayurvedaandcaffeine #ayurvediccoffee

We’re going to spend this week look at coffee from an ‘Ayurvedic’ perspective. We’ll focus on: - The pros and cons of coffee - Who is best suited to coffee - Best coffee-drinking practices - Alternatives to coffee - Other forms of caffeine If you have any other questions about coffee and Ayurveda - drop a comment below and I’ll make sure to address it in all my future posts this week! #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #coffee #ayurvedaandcoffee #coffeeaddiction #coffeealternatives #ilovecoffee #ayurvedaandcaffeine #ayurvediccoffee

We often try to suppress symptoms of illness when they start appearing. Of course no-one wants to get sick - but when it happens, we shouldn’t just try to suppress the symptoms - our body is trying to tell us something, so take the time to listen. 
 This information is for the beginnings of a fever - of course if your fever has progressed then please go and see a medical professional. But let’s learn to listen to our body when it whispers (early signs of a fever) rather than wait to hear it scream (more serious imbalances). #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #fever #ayurvedaandfever #fevermanagement #starveafever

Ragi Hot Chocolate Ingredients: 1 tablespoon ghee/coconut oil 2 tablespoons ragi flour 1 tablespoon cacao powder 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder 1.5-2 tablespoons cane sugar or sweetner of your choice 1 cup milk (animal or plant) 1 cup water Method: 1. Melt the ghee in a heavy-bottom saucepan on low-medium heat. 2. Once the ghee is hot, add in the ragi flour and continue whisking until the ragi cooks and you smell a nutty/earthy aroma - this should take 2-3 minutes. 3. Add in the water, milk, ginger powder, cacao powder and contine whisking. You want to keep stirring continuously because lumps can quickly form in the ragi - I alternated using a whisk and a spatula to ensure I’m mixing in anything that may have stuck to the bottom or sides of the pot. 4. Once the mixture starts simmering, add in the cane sugar or sweetner or your choice. Keep stirring - you will see the hot chocolate mixture thicken. If it looks too thick for your liking, add a bit more water or milk to thin it out. 5. Once you see the hot chocolate come to a boil, switch off the heat - the whole process should take about 6-8 minutes on the heat. 6. Offer with love and honour with gratitude! #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #ragi #fingermillet #glutenfreerecipes #ayurvedicrecipes #superfoods #superfoodrecipes #healthyhotchocolate

If you’re a New Year, New Me kinda person and start your diet in the new year, then watch this video. Winter is the time to enjoy your foods, not begin a diet or a detox or a cleanse. #ayurveda #practicalayurveda #newyearnewme #newyearsresolution #winterandayurveda #ayurvedicfood #realayurveda

Bajra Pudlas/Fritters Ingredients: - 1 cup grated zucchini - 1 cup grated carrot - 1 cup corn kernels - 1 small green chilli finely diced - 1 teaspoon grated ginger - small handful chopped coriander - 1.5 teaspoon salt - 1 cup bajra (pearl millet) flour - water as necessary - ghee Method: 1. Mix the grated vegetables, green chilli, ginger, salt, coriander and bajra flour well into a bowl. Add water once it’s been mixed well (as some water will release from the vegetables). 2. Let the batter rest for 10mins. 3. Heat a skillet on medium flame - pour a small ladle of the batter on the pan once it is hot. Spoon ghee onto the edges of the fritters and cover with a small saucepan lid. 4. Cook the fritter on one side for 3-4 mins (until you see bubbles appear on the surface of the batter). Once it’s cooked, lift the lid of the saucepan and flip to cook on the second side. Again cover with the saucepan lid and allow to cook for a further 3-4 minutes. 5. Repeat until you’ve used all the batter - the measurements above should yield enough fritters for 2 people. 6. Serve with your favourite chutney, and honour with gratitude! #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #bajra #pearlmillet #glutenfreeayurveda #glutenfreerecipes #ayurvedicrecipes #quickmeals #vegetarianrecipes #bajrarecipes

Sweet potato/Squash Parathas with a cheesy filling! Ingredients: - sweet potato/pumpkin/squash of your choice - olive oil - dried mixed herbs - salt - atta/wheat flour/spelt flour - water - mozarella cheese (can substitute with paneer or cheddar) - olives - fresh parsley or other herbs of choice - black pepper Method: 1. Wash, peel and dice the sweet potato/pumpkin/squash. Coat generously with olive oil, dried mixed herbs and salt and roast in the oven at 180-200 Celcius until they’re tender and slightly charred (around 20 minutes). 2. Allow the sweet potato/pumpkin to cool and then mash well in a big bowl - add the flour of your choice (I used atta) and knead until it forms a soft dough - add water during the kneading process. Once everything is well mixed, allow to rest for at least 10 minutes under a damp tea towel or air tight container. 3. Grate the mozarella/paneer into a bowl. Add chopped olives, chopped fresh parsley (or fresh herbs of your choice), salt and pepper. Mix well and then form into small balls. 4. Heat a skillet/cast iron pan on medium heat. Divide the sweet potato/pumpkin dough into small golf-size balls. Dust with flour and roll out into thick circles. Fill with the olive-herb-cheese filling. Seal the dough well and continue rolling into a thinner and larger circle. 5. Cook on the skillet until light brown spots appear on one side, brush with olive oil or ghee, flip and cook on the second side for another minute. Flip again and coat the second side with olive oil or ghee. Cook the second side for a second time and then remove from the heat. 6. Offer with love, and honour with gratitude! #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #parathas #cheesyparathas #lunchboxrecipes #fusionrecipes #italianindianfusion

I’ve noticed New Year’s to be a bit over hyped in the last few years (sorry to be a party pooper!) of course it’s a great time to change things up, improve your habits etc. But really it’s just another day - so don’t get stressed if you’re not a ‘New Year, New Me’ person. Instead look at the New Year in a different way - it’s 365 chances at living 24 hours again! We can use sankalpas to help frame our day, or even the very activity we are concentrating on – for as little or big as the task is. It’s a powerful method of setting your intention, and cultivating a strong inner resolve. So don’t worry if you haven’t been able to catch up with your new year resolutions – there is a new day waiting ahead 🙂 #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #newyears #newyearsresolutions #newyearnewme #goalsetting #planyouryear

Ekadasi Quesadillas Ingredients: - Farali flour - dried herbs - olive oil - salt - veggies of your choice (capsicum, zucchini, asparagus, broccolini, carrots, cherry tomatoes, cabbage, olives) - chilli flakes - Ekadasi hing (if available, I get mine from a shop in Vrindavan, India) or pure Hing (without any rice flour/wheat flour added in) - grated cheese - ghee Method: 1. Make your Ekadasi rotis by kneading together the farali flour, some mixed herbs, olive oil and warm water. Knead till you get a soft dough and keep covered while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. 2. Finely dice the vegetables of your choice - choose 3-4. 3. Place a wok/saucepan on high heat and add in ghee, chilli flakes, dried herbs and the diced vegetables. 4. Continue stirring and cooking on high heat so most of the water can evaporate. Add salt and Ekadasi hing (optional) and continue stirring on high heat until the remainder of the water evaporates. You want to be left with a fairly dry vegetable mixture. 5. Divide the Ekadasi dough into small balls (the shape of a golf-ball). Dust in Ekadasi flour and roll out to a thin circle shape (like a roti/tortilla). 6. Cook on a skillet on medium heat for about 1 minute on both sides (until light brown spots appear). Continue until you’ve rolled and cooked the remainder of the Ekadasi dough. 7. Spread the veggie mixture on half a roti, top with grated cheese, fold into half, spread both sides with ghee and cook on the skilled until golden brown and crispy. 8. Offer with love and honour with gratitude! #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #ekadasirecipes #fastingrecipes #vratkakhana #vratrecipes

Those of you who know me, know that soups will feature heavily on my weekly menus during winter. It’s easy to overdo it with heavy, cheesy and rich foods during winter - and sometimes vegetables often get neglected - soups are a great way to make sure you get all the prana and goodness from fresh vegetables, and help you eat the other foods in moderation. These are some of my favourite soup combinations: - bottle gourd (laukhi), tomato and carrot - beet, asparagus, carrot and tomato - zucchini, peas, potato, spinach and mint - roasted in the oven: tomato, carrot, red capsicum and zucchini - fennel, asparagus, carrot and sweet potato What are some of your favourite combinations? #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #ayurvedaandimmunity #immunebostingrecipes #soupseason #soupfordays #vegansouprecipes #vegetariansouprecipes

So you've heard that good digestion = good immunity. But what happens when you feel you're starting to get sick (you know niggles in your throat, low appetite, fatigue, altered bowel movements, feeling a little rundown, sniffly nose - all that jazz) and you're not sure what to eat? You've heard so much about 'easy-to-digest' food but don't really know what it is. I've got you! Here's a little guide on what sort of foods to favour and eat when you feel like you're about to get sick! #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #ayurvedaandimmunity #immunebostingrecipes

Mediterranean Rice Serves 8-10 people Ingredients: - 1 cup green lentils - 1 cup basmati rice - 1 small sweet potato - 1 medium zucchini - 1 red capsicum - olive oil - asafoetida (hing) - za’atar spice blend - Baharat spice blend - salt - fresh parsley - pomegranate - lime Method: 1. Wash and then soak the green lentils in boiling water for at least two hours. 2. Wash the basmati rice at least 2 times, and leave to soak in water for at least 30 mins. 3. Peel, wash and chop the sweet potato into cubes. Spread on a tray, drizzle with olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons of the zaatar spice blend. Mix everything well. Roast in the oven at 200C. 4. After 10 mins of roasting in the oven, take the tray out. 5. Wash and chop the zucchini and red capsicum into cubes. Add to the tray of roasted sweet potato, drizzle with olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons zaatar spice blend. Mix everything well and return the tray to the oven to roast until all the vegetables are cooked and slightly charred. 6. In a large sauce pan, heat some olive oil. Once hot, add the 1/2 teaspoon asafoetida and 2 teaspoons of the Baharat spice mix. Add in the soaked green lentils (drain the water first), another 1-2 teaspoons of the Baharat spice mix, the soaked rice (and drained), salt to taste and mix well. Add in boiling water - at least 3 cups. 7. Bring the heat to low so the rice and lentil mixture is simmering and cover with a lid. Leave to cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes - check after 7 mintues to see the level of water - if need be, add more to make sure everything gets well cooked and nothing sticks to the bottom. Once cooked, turn the heat off, and leave the lid on for a further 5 minutes. 8. Add in the roasted vegetables to the rice and lentil mixture and stir very gently until everything is well combined. 9. When serving, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, fresh pomegranate seeds and a squeeze of lime juice. 10. Offer with love and honour with gratitude! #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #ayurvedaandimmunity #immunebostingrecipes #veganrecipes #vegetarianrecipes

Want a quick way to boost your immune system? I wish I could give you one but the truth is that our immune health is dependent on a lot more than taking a few herbs. Join me over the next few days/week as I share more information on how we can strengthen our immunity from its roots. #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #ayurvedaandimmunity #immunebostingrecipes

Simple Fried Rice Ingredients: - 1/2 cup jasmine rice - 1 cup vegetables of your choice (I used capscium, green beans, mangetout and carrots) - firm tofu - hing (asafoetida) - turmeric powder - black pepper - 1/2 inch fresh ginger - sesame oil - 1 tablespoon miso paste - 1 tablespoon sambal oelek (chili sambal) - 2-3 tablespoons soya sauce - white sesame seeds Method: 1. Wash the rice at least twice and soak for 30mins. Cook the rice at least 3-4 hours before making the stir-fry. 2. Wash and chop the vegetables of your choice and set aside. Chop the tofu into long cubes and set aside. Grate the fresh ginger. 3. Heat some sesame oil in a wok, add in the asafoetida, tofu, turmeric powder and black pepper in quick succession. Stir well until the tofu is coated in the spices and it begins to turn golden brown. Then take of the heat and set aside. 4. In the same wok, heat some more sesame oil. Add in the grated ginger and chopped veggies and stir well for 1-2 minutes. Once the vegetables have started to soften, add in 1 tablespoon miso paste and 1 tablespoon sambal oelek. Stir well until the two pastes are well combined with the veggies. 5. Add in the cooked rice and soya sauce. Stir well but gently until everything is well combined and the rice grains are nice and separate. Add in the tofu and continue stirring. 6. Garnish with white sesame seeds, offer with love and honour with gratitude. #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #ayurvedicrecipes #veganayurvedicrecipes #veganayurveda #veganrecipes #simplerecipes #quickdinners

Tips to stay warm without turning on the thermostat 1. Take short movement breaks throughout the day. 2. Wrap up - keep head, neck and feet warm. 3. Warming foods and spices. #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #wintertips #stayingwarmwithouttheheating #winterandayurveda

Does your digestion need a bit of a break after all the fancy and rich foods over the last few festive days? Here’s a simple gut-reset guide. #gutreset #ayurvedalifestyle #ayurvediceating #guthealth #giveyourgutabreak #digestivereset #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda

It’s World Ayurveda Day and here’s an important message I have wanted to share for a long time! Let’s appreciate Ayurveda for Ayurveda. Let’s appreciate both the science and art of Ayurveda. Let’s appreciate anyone and everyone who has helped us understand and implement Ayurveda in our lives. #dhanteras #worldayurvedaday #dhanvantari #ayurveda #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #ayurvedictips

A few tips to help you make the most of your festive season: 1. COOK the meal rather than relying on catered or pre-prepared food. 2. CHOOSE wisely from the options. 3-4 things on your plate: 1 well-spiced protein, 1 grain that’s cooked with a healthy fat, 1-2 vegetable dishes, and 1 sweet. 3. SKIP soft drinks and mocktails for hot herbal drinks. 4. MOVE - more exercise to help balance out some of the heaviness from all the rich foods. #ayurveda #ayurvedictips #realayurveda #practicalayurveda #livingayurveda #ayurvedicwisdom #mindbodysoul #festiveeating #overeating #diwalifeasts #healthydiwalitips #healthyeatingtips #mindfuleating #intuitiveeating