July 2009        

Warm and loving greetings

from the Nalanda Team in Greyton. We hope you are keeping well.

Many thanks for all your kind feedback from the May newsletter, it is always great to hear from you! 

Since June 2009 we have been happy to welcome you with us at Nalanda Retreat Centre. We are excited to offer you accommodation and your meals in one place. It is a charming big house, a lovely space to rest and rejuvenate at the fireplace, on the terrace, next to the dam in the huge garden – enjoy the true benefits of Greyton. It is close to the Nature Reserve and to the river and it is only about 7 min walking distance from the Nalanda Treatment Centre, both being on the Greyton Main Road. See the photos.

Winter may increase Kapha so check out its qualities, possible imbalances and how to keep it healthy with a warming tea.

The Diary of events contains many exciting events for 2009. 

In November we are looking forward to an exciting months with Ayurvedic Physician Professor Dr Sanjeev Sood from Ayurvedic College, Jalandhar, India. Enquire early for the full medial Pancha Karma as space is limited or watch the next newsletters for more information on the workshops and consultations.

Let us know how we can assist you better with your health and well-being through Ayurveda-Natural Medicine of the future.

We are looking forward to welcoming you for a first visit or to see you again!

Contents:

New Nalanda Retreat Centre photos

Signs of good health

Get rid of headache, by Pradeep Chaudhary

Recipe: Kapha balancing and warming winter tea

Tips for happiness, by Dr. Priyanka Arora

One-day Ayurvedic Cooking Workshop at Clifton

How to get an Ayurvedic Cooking Course for free

Human values by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Special: Warming Winter Wellness Retreat, three half-days for two

2009 Diary of events:-

- Ayurvedic Cooking day in Clifton and Greyton Weekend, content and schedule

- Healthy Digestion with Ayurveda

- “Art of Living part 1” in Greyton

- Wellness Weekends Greyton

- Nov activities with Prof. Dr Sanjeev Sood

May you enjoy good health of body, mind and emotions. May your life be filled with blessings, may your heart be filled with joy!

May there be peace, love and happiness!

Warmest regards

Margit Gilliot on behalf of the entire Nalanda team

New Nalanda Retreat Centre

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• Good sleep

• Eating well with a good digestion

• Regular bowel movements

• Normal breathing

• A calm mind with clarity of thought

• Radiating cheerfulness and joy

• Freedom from addictions

• Sparkling eyes and radiant skin

• Regular exercise

• Ability to maintain health promoting lifestyle

Ayurveda is the combination of two root words: Ayu - life and veda - knowledge. The knowledge of life where life is a dynamic union of body, senses, mind and the soul. The two main goals of Ayurveda are to

• Maintain health in a healthy person

• Cure the disease in a sick person

Health is explained in Ayurveda as svastha, which is sva - self, stha - tuning or established, so tuning to self. Health is not only defined as physical well-being but also as spiritual well-being.

We are living Ayurveda knowingly or unknowingly in different ways through lifestyles and diet, from when we get up in the morning until we go to bed. Understanding Ayurveda helps to correct and to live a healthy lifestyle. Ayurveda is the perfect solution. Ayurveda works with diet, lifestyle, exercise, home remedies, massage treatments, selfcare, Pancha Karma, natural herbal Ayurvedic medicines to recreate health’s and a better quality of life.

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Many headaches can be cured just by drinking lots of water, preferably warm or boiled water.

Many natural tips to get rid of headaches by Pradeep Choudhary

1. Soak a cotton ball in arrack (forehead width), and put it on the forehead, lie down with it for 30 minutes in a dark room.

2. For a natural treatment for headache: drink a lot of salvia tea.

3. Stir 1 teaspoon of lavender leaves to a cup of boiling water, cool and drink 3 times daily.

4. Simply smell lavender flowers for 5 minutes. (I have tried it. It really works.)

5. Drink a mixture of half a cup of strong black coffee with half a lemon juice.

6. Pour hot water in a bowl (as hot as possible), dip your hands in the bowl and take them out. Repeat 10 times.

7. A home remedy for headache: boil honey and apple cider vinegar and inhale the steam.

8. Slice a peeled potato; tie tightly with a cloth on the forehead for 20 minutes.

9. Blanch 5-7 rosemary leaves in a cup of boiling water, add honey, wait 3 minutes and drink.

10. Put 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in half a cup of water and drink up right away.

11. Take 2 teaspoons of honey with each meal.

12. Drink fresh cabbage juice everyday to prevent headaches.

13. Chinese medicine for headaches: Immerse 300 gm mint leaves to half a litre of pure almond oil. Pour into a bottle with a cork, shake and put in a dry cool spot for 3 weeks. Strain and apply on the forehead and the neck when needed.

14. Pour 1 cup of boiling water on 1 teaspoon of marjoram, wait for 5-10 minutes and drink. Repeat 3 times daily.

15. Herbal remedy for headache: drink one or 2 cups of peppermint tea to help with the headache.

16. Squeeze one lemon, add one tablespoon of cinnamon, mix to get a paste. Apply on the forehead for half an hour.

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The three operating forces in Ayurveda are Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

In a cold and humid winter season, Kapha (earth and water elements) may be more prevalent therefore we look a bit closer at it in this newsletter. Kapha has following qualities:

 Heavy    Cold    Oily   Sweet
Steady    Slow    Soft
Sticky    Dull    Smooth

Kapha governs stability, strength and stamina.

When Kapha is in balance the body is strong, resistant to disease, calm and self-contained. The mind feels tranquil, happy, serene and its retentive power is good.

The external increase of Kapha may lead to imbalances such as:

• Laziness, too much sleep

• Heaviness in the body, gaining weight

• Feeling cold

• Tired body

• Colds and coughs, congestion, blocked nose

• Asthma and sinusitis

• Sluggish digestion

• Painful joints

To balance Kapha

• Seek fire, air and space elements.

• Favour foods that are pungent, bitter and astringent.

• Look for dry, warm, stimulating, light qualities.

• Seek variety and new things in life. 

• Eat small quantities, don’t overeat.

• Exercise regularly.

• Stay warm, dress warm, especially when the weather is cold and damp.

• Drink the Kapha balancing tea.

Ingredients

Ø       ¼ teaspoon dry ginger

Ø       1/3 teaspoon ground cloves

Ø       ¼ teaspoon dill seed

Ø       ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seed

Ø       2 tulsi-holy basil leaves

Ø       3 black peppercorns crashed

Ø       ¼ teaspoon of liquorice powder

Ø       1 small piece of cinnamon bark

Ø       1 cup water

Method

v      Boil the water and add the spices.

v      Cover.

v      Turn off the heat.

v     Allow to stand for a few minutes.

Honey can be added it you wait to cool the tea to body temperature. Honey when heated becomes toxic.

The benefits of the ingredients

Ginger: Pungent, Heating and dry.	It reduces excess Vata and Kapha.
	It increases appetite and helps in digestion.
	It reduces inflammation and therefore eases pain.
	Improves cardiovascular health and circulation.
	It improves bowel and kidney functions and gives a cleansing effect.
Cloves: Pungent, sweet and bitter in taste.	Heating
	They reduce excess Vata and Kapha.
	They stimulate the nervous system.
	As cloves increase white blood cells, they help the body to better resist infections and diseases.
	They aid in digestion.
	They are good for the eyes, asthma, hiccups, colic, tuberculosis, most diseases of the head.
	They cure coughs.
	They cure bad taste in the mouth.
Dill:	It is antispasmodic.
	It is diuretic.
	It reduces insomnia and colic problems.
	Fenugreek: Bitter, astringent, heating.
	It reduces excess Vata and Kapha.
	It is beneficial for lungs and intestines.
	It is slightly laxative.
	It aids in digestion.
	Due to its heating property it is ideal during the cold season.
	Beneficial when you feel cold, have cold feet and hands.
	It cures constipation and helps liver and spleen problems.
Tulsi-holy basil leaves:	Enhances digestive functions.
	Beneficial for asthma.
	Reduces excess phlegm.
	Blood purifier
Black pepper:	Improves digestive functions.
	Relieves colds and coughs.
	Relieves body pain.
Liquorice powder: Sweet	Useful to reduce excess phlegm.
	Helps to relieve constipation.
	Good for coughs, bronchitis.
Cinnamon: Sweet, bitter, pungent	Heating, light and dry.
	It is a blood purifier.
	Stimulant
	Useful for bronchitis.
	Helps flatulence and indigestion.
Honey: It has a sweet and astringent taste	Its heading properties are especially good for winter.
	In small quantities it reduces Kapha due to its dry, heavy and rough qualities.
	Honey promotes strength, intelligence and determination.

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1. Spend some time alone.

2. Talk slowly but think quickly.

3. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

4. In disagreement, fight fairly. No name-calling.

5. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

6. When you say “I am sorry” look the person in the eyes.

7. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

8. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

9. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

10. Smile when picking up the phone, the caller will hear it in your voice.

11. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

12. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much.
    

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One-day Ayurveda Cooking Workshop in Clifton - R900. Date to be advised

Let us know if you are interested!

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• Your keen interest in learning to cook
  simple healthy vegetarian Ayurvedic
  meals.

• A big kitchen that is available for a full day for your friends and for us.

• A minimum of six friends that are as keen as you.

• A quiet undisturbed place to sit, learn discuss, share, eat, enjoy…

• R900 for each of the participants for full notes and the meals.

• A date that works for all of us.

• A deep caring for all life

• A responsible attitude toward the planet

• Non-violence

• Compassion and love

• Friendliness and compassion

• Generosity and sharing

• Integrity

• Honesty and sincerity

• Moderation in one’s activity

• Service

• Commitment and responsibility

• Peace contentment and enthusiasm

SPECIAL: Warming Winter Wellness Retreat

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Keep warm and well with this fantastic offering for a three half-days Retreat for two for only R5 400 (value R7 340). Valid until the end of August 2009.

Included:

• Two nights accommodation at the Nalanda Retreat Centre

• All vegetarian ayurvedic meals starting with lunch on Day One and ending with lunch on Day Three

• Healthy mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks

• One candlelit dinner

• Fireside talk – understanding your body type

• Two morning Yoga sessions

• One breathing, meditation session

• Two evening relaxations

• Time for individual ayurvedic or lifestyle advice

• Herbal teas

• Time in nature, rest, relaxation 

• Informal ayurvedic cooking lesson

Also included:

Ayurvedic Treatments at the Nalanda Treatment Centre:

Per person you receive

• 2 x deeply relaxing full body massages Abhyanga with warm oil

• 2 x grasshopper, sitting vigorous shoulder and back massage for cleansing and strengthening lungs and calming your breathing

• 2 x Pinda Sveda full body massage, with coconut and lemon wrapped in boluses and lots of oil, luxurious treatment for your whole body and skin health, to balance and prevent winter disorders due increased Kapha such as colds, coughs and congestion revitalizing the entire body, increases mobility, relieves muscular pain and joint pain as well as stress, restoring deep sleep

• 2 x facial steam inhalation to clear excess build up of mucus or prevention such, due to aggravation of Kapha in winter

• 2 x Svedana, ayurvedic steam treatment for the whole body, keeping the head cool, relaxing muscles and cleansing for the whole body

• 1 x Ayurvedic hand pampering 

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If you would like to eat less meat, but don’t know what to cook instead; if you are already a vegetarian interested in learning about Ayurvedic cooking; if you are interested in healthy ways of eating – than this weekend is for you. Enjoy learning, preparing and eating yummy soulful vegetarian meals, with a simple approach to wholesome, freshly prepared food. We use local and organic ingredients as far as possible.

Spend a relaxing, inspiring weekend with healthy food in the beautiful village of Greyton.

Practical:

• Vegetarian dishes that provide protein

• Healthy breakfast/brunch ideas

• Soups and dals

• Ideas with dairy, raitas and chutneys

Ayurveda Education:

• The five elements, doshas and their qualities

• Understanding your body type or imbalance, Prakritti/Vikritti

• The six tastes

• Natural eating guidelines

• Eating for health and well-being, the Gunas, effect of foods on body and mind

• Attributes of different foods

• Food antidotes

• Cooling and heating foods

• Food as medicine, Vata, Pitta Kapha balancing foods, eating for your body type or imbalance

 Schedule for the weekend:

(Small changes to this schedule are possible)

Friday:
Arrival from 4 pm onwards
6.00 pm - 6.30 pm	Welcome, herbal tea and introduction to the weekend
6.30 pm - 7.00 pm	Supper
7.00 pm - 8.00 pm	Evening walk (weather permitting) or relax at the fireplace with herbal tea
8.00 pm - 8.30 pm	Ayurveda Education 1
8.30 pm - 9.00 pm	Evening Relaxation
Saturday:
7.00 am - 8.00 am	Yoga
8.00 am - 8.30 am	Self-care or morning walk
8.30 am - 9.00 am	Practical preparing ayurvedic breakfast 1
9.00 am - 9.30 am	Breakfast
9.30 am - 11.00 am	Rest, relaxation, time in nature
11.00 am -11.30 am	Mid morning snack, herbal tea and Ayurveda Education 2
11.30 am - 1.00 pm	Practical preparing healthy balancing ayurvedic lunch 2
1.00 pm	Lunch
1.30 pm - 4.00 pm	Rest, relaxation, time in nature
4.00 pm - 4.30 pm	Breathing, meditation
4.30 pm	Afternoon snack, herbal tea and Ayurveda Education 3
4.30 pm - 6.00 pm	Practical preparing healthy supper 3
6.00 pm – 6.30 pm	Supper
6.30 pm	Evening walk (weather permitting) or relax at the fireplace with herbal tea
8.00 pm - 8.30pm	Ayurveda Education 4
8.30 pm -  9 pm	Evening Relaxation
Sunday:
8.00 am - 9.00 am	Yoga
9.00 am	Fruit snack and herbal chai
9.00 am -10.30 am	Self- care or morning walk
10.30 am -11.30 am	Practical preparing Healthy Ayurvedic Brunch
11.30 am	Brunch
12.30 am -1.00 pm	Closing, feedback of weekend
1.00 pm - 4.00 pm	Free time or Departure

Time: Starting Friday 7.00 pm ending Sunday after brunch

Cost: R1 800 including the meals and lots of notes and recipes, shared accommodation, shared bathrooms.

If you prefer, we will find for you other accommodation within walking distance, according to your preference and budget.

Contact us for your booking!

2009 Diary of Events

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Welcome to Nalanda Ayurvedic Centre