Nalanda Ayurvedic Centre

Where is Beauty
You are beauty.
You are joy.
Beauty is not outside there in the rocks or in the sunset, or in the trees, or in the moon. Beauty is here inside you.

Here in Cape Town, Winter is about to finally drawn his watery cold cloak around him and recede back into those dark crevices deep in the mountains which remain perenially cool and refreshing. What a delight to come upon such a recess from the dry heat of summer when wandering in our magnificent mountain ranges! So those of you particularly in need of cooling your excess fire during the next months, remember our mountains streams, pools and forests. If you are feeling irritable, overly critical, suffering from rashes, sensitive skin, eyes or any other burning sensations, our wide open white beaches are not always the best environment. Through Cape Nature Conservation, you can book a permit to go for the day on truly awesome meanders from rock pool to rock pool less than an hour from Cape Town. Tel: 021 426 0723 www.capenature.org.za.

If you are working during the upcoming holiday season - as we are - then you can stay cool with one of our new tea mixtures of fennel, coriander and cardamom which you can enjoy warm or as an iced tea. Or make yourself and your guests a refreshing and immune boosting yoghurt drink called lassi. Alternatively, come and visit us for a swim in the pool followed by one of our seriously tempting massage offers.
See our specials below:

Breathing is such a natural activity, why would anyone need to think twice about doing it? As we grow up, when we experience pain or fear, we tense up and hold our breath or breathe shallowly. Over time this becomes a habit and even the muscles which allow lung space to expand become limited in movement. We do not want to breathe Life in too deeply, being afraid it will hurt us. And it is true, when we breathe deeper, we feel more, we become more aware of sensations in the body and of our thoughts and emotions. Sometimes this may feel unpleasant but the more we allow the emotions to flow, the sooner they pass, and the more open we become to experiencing joy, love, peace and contentment.

In our last newsletter, we discussed the healing power of water. Just as we cleanse the outside of our bodies with water baths, an 'air bath' of deep breathing with focused awareness bathes the lungs, while feeding oxygen to the whole body and purifying it.

Most of the prana or life-force that determines our state of well-being and immunity is absorbed through breathing in. More toxins are released from our bodies and minds through simply breathing out than through excretion, urination or sweating. Thus any imbalance in our breathing mechanism reduces our ability to gain prana from the breath and weakens us.

Stop reading for a moment and hold your breath for just 20 seconds, OK try 15.....................Isn't it a wonder that we pay so little attention to such an important process? Now try another exercise: sit comfortably with your eyes closed and spine upright and become aware of your breath without changing it. Ask yourself: what part of me is it that wants to alter or manipulate the breath? Is it possible to simply observe the breath without manipulating it? Is it possible to simply observe ourselves without judging or trying to change who we are?

There are many different breathing practices taught in the various Yoga and meditation traditions and each of us needs to find a way that works and feels comfortable. But no matter how we choose to make this act more conscious, the breath can become our potent ally against negativity in all its various forms. "As you inhale you can visualize that you're drawing in unlimited quantities of prana; pure, healing, cosmic, divine life-force. You can picture any form of natural energy that appeals to you. Then on the exhalation, visualize all the toxins, all the impurities, all the problems leaving with the breath." suggests Swami Karunananda, a senior Integral Yoga teacher.

½ cup live yoghurt, preferably organic	pour into blender or glass jar, together with
1 cup cool water	dissolve one or more of the following spices in a little warm water:
¼ teaspoon cardamom
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
A pinch of saffron	add into yoghurt mixture, together with
Sugar to taste	seal jar and shake until frothy or blend for a few seconds.

Serves 2.

Enjoy as a delicious digestive aid after your lunch or on its own and chilled, as a refreshing drink

Variation: Use savoury spices such as ground cumin, ginger, fennel, coriander, omit the sugar and add a pinch of salt

Yummy Yoghurt

Yoghurt is one of the most useful foods known to Ayurveda. It is an appetizer and a digestive stimulant. It is nourishing, increases unctuousness and strength, and is aphrodisiac. It helps to relieve diarrhoea or even with psyllium seeds, to clear constipation. Regularly consumed, yoghurt restores the bacteria balance in the digestive tract and also help clear toxic symptoms like bloating and indigestion. It is recommended that yoghurt is eaten fresh and preferably not at night.

Current specials and upcoming cooking course

Treatments given after 5 pm on weekdays and any time on Saturdays are 10 % extra. Treatments given on Sundays and public holidays are 25 % extra.

Be inspired to create Healthy Comfort foods using alternatives to wheat, sugar and processed cheese