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Workshops
August 2006
Spring is in the air! New beginnings, so if taking care of yourself has not been a priority in the past, now is a good time to start. Self-care starts with intention. As obvious as it sounds, the first step in self-care is caring about yourself, a unique and precious individual with a special contribution to make to this world.
The lucky winner of the Nalanda "pick me up" competition is ...
Claire Descroizilles!
Congratulations Claire, we are looking very much forward to
treating you to your gift!
Contents
Self-care
Specials
Recipe: Lemon Rice
Spice: Cinnamon
Yoga Teachers Events
Self-care
"Ayurveda's
strong point is the education of the client into a life of
ongoing self-care. More than a health care system, Ayurveda is a
lifestyle. Halpern asserts that "the best at-home care is to
create a lifestyle that is in harmony with your environment
through the principles and practices of Ayurveda," such as daily
oil massage, meditation, yoga, and healthy eating habits. He
stresses the value of simply resting 15 minutes after eating.
Remember, Ayurveda sees indigestion as the beginning of disease.
"
Pamela Miles, healer and writer for Yoga Journal
The role of an Ayurvedic doctor or practitioner is to empower and educate his/her clients to be able to take better care of themselves:
Recognise
your own signs of stress such as changes in breathing patterns,
digestive or skin problems, irritability. Listen to your body.
Develop healthy
routines
to anchor you through the stressful times and to help prevent
imbalances from occurring. Treat your body as a temple, take
time to breathe deeply and cleanse your mind on a daily basis.
Learn and practise
relaxation
which is a focused, intentional period of withdrawing from daily
activity and external stimuli to tune in to your Self. Become
more self-aware.
Sometimes we feel guilty when we do something for ourselves. On
the contrary, we can feel very good as we are freeing those
around us from needing to take care of us.
Every time you take care of yourself, you heal and recover from
the times in your life when you did not receive the care you
needed. You build a sense of trust in yourself, and the world
becomes a friendlier, safer place for you.
Following certain Ayurvedic principles of conduct helps to keep
our minds healthy and strong:
Practice
Non-Violence
"If
the other person injures you, you may forget the injury; but if
you injure him you will always remember"
Khalil Gibran
Ayurveda considers killing or doing bodily harm for pleasure or
out of habit, is a crime, which is believed to cause suffering
to the killer as well as the victim. It may also, create harmful
traits in an individual. Only if necessary to save somebody's
life that Ayurveda recommends meat or animal body-parts as
medicine. By avoiding violence, you save your own mind as well
as the other person's.
Avoid Stealing
Stealing induces fear and anxiety in the person conducting the
act. When it becomes a habit, the person may have to live in
constant fear, which may not be good for the person's mental and
physical health. Also, it harms other people, which ayurveda
strongly advises against.
Abstain from
Telling Lies
Telling lies induces fear, which creates negative vibrations in
a person's mind and consequently, their physical health is
affected. Though Ayurveda does not strictly advise against
telling a lie as it may be done for a good cause, the
circumstances under which a person may have to tell a lie should
always be avoided.
Avoid Consuming
Addictive Substances
Addictive substances such as alcohol, nicotine,
sugar are considered as
Tamasic or lethargy inducing both for body and mind.
Ayurveda advises against the consumption of these because of its
adverse effect on the normal functioning of the body and the
mind.
Specials:
Massage is a gentle way for you to ease out of winter hibernation, release some of the old 'stuff' you no longer need and get in touch with your body again under all those layers of clothing.
A personal experience of Ayurveda:
. the aftermath lasted much longer than anticipated. The shifts in my well-being are both subtle and very real. I'm distinctly more present, more patient with my kids and myself, more appreciative and respectful of both friends and adversaries, more satisfied with life. Blood sugar is stable, digestion strong, and sleep refreshing. When stress is unavoidable, I have deeper resilience and simple, effective tools."
Pamela Miles, healer and writer for Yoga Journal
Spring Rejuvenation Special
- Welcome herbal tea
- Consultation with short breathing/relaxation session
- Self-care for the hands
- Deeply relaxing Ayurvedic foot massage with bowl
- Healthy snack
- Ayurvedic full body massage with warm oil
- Ayurvedic hand pampering with cleansing, nourishing and massage of the hands
Value: R630, on special at R540 for one person or R900 for two, valid until end of October 2006, duration about 3 and a half hours
Discounted vouchers
The benefits of your Ayurvedic Massage are greatly enhanced when received several times within a space of a few weeks. Make this commitment and invest in the most important relationship in your life - the one with your Self!
Spoil yourself and your loved ones
10 Nurturing
Ayurvedic
full body oil massages including foot massage with bowl
worth R270 each
Value R2700, on special
for R2100 Can be transferred to friends, family,
colleagues, valid until the end of 2006, payment before 30th
Sep 2006
Spoil yourself
3 Nurturing
Ayurvedic
full body oil massages including foot massage with bowl
worth R270 each
Value R810, on special
for R540, includes one consultation before your
first massage,
valid until 31st Oct August 2006, not
transferable, payment before 3oth Sep 2006
Recipe: Lemon Rice
|
2 cups basmati rice, washed and soaked for 15 min, if possible |
Drain, and set aside |
|
1 T ghee |
Heat, and toss in |
|
½ t cumin seeds |
|
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1 ½ t black mustard seeds |
|
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5 curry leaves, optional |
and |
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1 cinnamon stick, about 5 cm |
When the cumin changes colour, add |
|
1 small green chilli, chopped or ¼ t cayenne |
and the drained rice, stir-fry together for 2-3 min. When grains become translucent, pour in |
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3 ½ cups water |
Together with |
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2 t salt |
And if you want the rice to be yellow, |
|
½ t turmeric, optional |
Bring to boil for 1 min. Cover pot and turn heat down. Cook without stirring for 18 min or until all water is absorbed. Open and remove cinnamon, sprinkle with |
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125 ml lemon juice |
And drop in |
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2 T butter |
Continue to cook for 2-3 min, then fluff it up with a fork and garnish each serving with |
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1 lemon, cut into wedges |
and |
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a few sprigs parsley |
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Spice: Cinnamon
Cinnamon bark is often used in ayurvedic herbal preparations to enhance the bio-availability of other herbs. It is warming and contains the sweet, pungent and bitter tastes. These properties make it good for pacifying Kapha Water/Earth and Vata Air/Ether. At this time of year in Cape Town, Vata is predominating in the environment as we move from winter to spring. Lots of wind, cold and changes! Remember cinnamon for infusions and in your cooking if you're feeling out of balance. Individuals trying to balance Pitta Fire can also consume cinnamon, but in smaller quantities.
In Ayurveda, cinnamon is used to balance the digestion and to pacify stomach disorders. Combined with other warming herbs and spices like ginger and black pepper, it can be boiled into a herbal tea to soothe discomfort associated with colds. Its oil is used to pacify headaches and keep joints healthy.
Yoga Teachers Training & Pregancy Yoga teaching
Ananda Kutir Yoga Ashram in Rondebosch East runs a two year Yoga Teachers Training Course as well as an Integral Yoga Course. For 2007/2008, the course begins 3rd Feb 2007.
Ananda Sanga in Somerset West offers a Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training including Post-Natal and Baby Yoga.
Call or e-mail us to find out more.
For more inspiration and news on Ayurveda happenings in South Africa, see www.vedicsociety.org
We wish you all a smooth an enjoyable transition into the next season and the willingness to take extra special care of yourself during this time.
With love, the team
Nalanda Ayurvedic Centre
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