Embracing The Darkness

I recently article wrote for Sivana Spirit that seemed to resonate with a lot of people. The topic was on embracing darkness and dark times. They are there to teach us and help us evolve. I think it's a topic many of us feel a little uncomfortable talking about and experiencing. But I encourage you to embrace it. Here's the article originally written for Sivana Spirit;

Embracing The Darkness

Darkness can be a hard thing to accept. Whether that darkness comes in the form of a bad mood, negative emotion, or a difficult time in our life we get uncomfortable. Uneasy. Fearful. Anxious. Because of this, we ignore it, deny it, or shove it down into the deepest part of ourselves hoping it’ll just go away. This never works. The Universe makes sure of it. What you resist persists. Why does the Universe create this law? Because the Universe is looking out for us. For the evolution of our Soul and this darkness is here to teach us. Darkness is simply an absence of light. The darkness, whatever form it takes, is an opportunity for you to illuminate. Go within, to the deepest part of Soul, and tap into the force and energy of your light. These are the times our greatest lessons are learned. You can’t appreciate the light if you haven’t experienced the dark. Embrace it. Speak to it. Question it. And then, transform it. Transform the darkness into light. At this point, you may be cheering me on like ‘Yes! I get it!’ but maybe you’re a little confused on the how-to part. You’re not alone. And let me start by saying, every souls journey is just that, their journey. There are many roads to healing and transforming darkness to light. What works for one may not work for another. But I will share with you here three sure fire ways to get comfortable with darkness so you can learn your Soul lesson and then, in an alchemical way, transform darkness to light.

BE STILL

We have to be still. In stillness we find inspiration, intuition and guidance. Many ancient religions, belief systems, and traditions teach about being still, being with nature, and spending time in meditation and contemplation. In the Christian Bible, there’s a passage that says…’Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10). This sentence is powerful even if it simply read…’Be still and know’.  We have to allow ourselves to just BE. It is only then that we hear the whispers of our soul and begin to understand the ‘why’ of certain situations and a clearer picture of our lesson begins to emerge. Give yourself time to BE with the darkness. Observe your emotions and reactions to the situation. Under that witnessing awareness there’s a message. But in order to hear it, you must be still.

NON-JUDGEMENT

As you become still and witness the situation, do so without judgement. Resist the urge to say it is good or bad. The moment you decide something is good or bad you create angst, guilt, or ego. You may not like the situation and want to change it. That’s ok! But do so without judging it. It is what is it. Acknowledge (without judgement), identify what you’d like instead, and then create change. That’s it.

MOVE

Movement is medicine. Truly! And during times of self-discovery, trauma, and release we need to move more than ever. There are a lot of emotions, memories, and energy being generated during times of transformation and we must move that energy. We can’t allow it to get stagnant and remain in the physical, mental, or emotional body or it will reappear in our lives. We release it through movement. I don’t care if it’s running, dancing, Taekwondo, or Yoga…just move.

Again, there are many ways to traverse through dark times and everyone’s path is different. But I believe these three are Universally powerful whether you practice them alone or with your own tools. Remember, you are a powerful BEING OF LIGHT.

In Love & Gratitude,

Joy Arnold

Improve Your Gut Health In 2018

Once again, our very own Manas Kshirsagar wrote an amazing article originally published on vpk® by Maharishi Ayurveda . In this article he discuss how to recharge gut health! Read this his article below.

7 Easy Ways to Recharge Your Gut in 2018

With all the glorious excesses of the holidays behind us — pastries, parties, and New Year’s Eve celebrations, oh my — you might be feeling a bit worn out. Fatigue, brain fog, and a few extra pounds around your middle are all signs that your digestive system could use a little tune-up. No time for a big cleanse? No worries. We’ve got your back — and some easy, age-old Ayurvedic tips to gently purify and strengthen your digestion.

Here are seven of our favorite (and simple!) strategies for restoring and maintaining gut health in 2018:

1. Start Your Day with Lemon Water

According to ancient Ayurvedic texts, drinking a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a spoonful of raw unpasteurized, unheated honey* and fresh lemon juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach helps to cleanse the digestive tract. Moreover, lemon juice is high in vitamin C, and honey helps to fire up your agni. It’s a simple little formula, but it helps you start the day off with some gentle detoxification.

2. Follow a Rest and Repair Diet

When you need to get your digestion back on track, consider a Rest and Repair diet, recommends Keith Wallace, PhD, co-author of Gut Crisis. Reducing or eliminating your intake of wheat, sugar, and dairy for several weeks can do wonders for your system. And if sugar cravings start to feel unmanageable, try popping a cardamom pod in your mouth and sucking on it, says Kulreet Chaudhary, M.D., author of The Prime: “Cardamom ties into your dopamine reward system, satiating your sugar craving without providing you with sugar that will overload your dopamine receptors.” Dr. Chaudhary also recommends drinking bone broth to repair your gut wall.

3. Feed Your Inner Fire Before Meals

Think of your digestive fire, or agni, as a fire. If you’ve been eating lots of rich, heavy, or sugary foods, you’ve heaped a lot of logs on your internal flame! As a result, the fire might be a bit diminished. A great way to rekindle agni before meals, when you need it most, is to eat a slice of ginger with freshly-squeezed lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Or, if you’re suffering from an acid stomach (which can also happen with overeating), Pomegranate Chutney’s the way to go. Try Aci-Balance to naturally deal with occasional acid indigestion without putting your body into acid rebound.

4. Drink Lassi Instead of Popping Probiotics

Why buy expensive probiotic pills when you can get a solid dose of healthy gut bacteria from a glass of delicious lassi? Rich in lactobacilli — bacteria your intestines need to function well — lassi helps to prevent and reduce gas and bloating when you drink it with meals. And, if you use our digestive lassi recipe, you’ll also benefit from digestion-boosting spices like ginger, cumin, and coriander. There are plenty of other lassi recipes to explore, from classic mango to rose petal mint, and other delicious variations. Also, every farmer knows that “if the ground isn’t fertile, the plants won’t grow.” The same holds true for the millions of friends living with us in our gut. Organic Digest Tone (Triphala Plus) is a daily detox that tones the digestive tract and makes it fertile ground for a healthy gut microbiome.

5. Sip Some Detoxifying Spice Tea

Sometimes the simplest things are the most powerful. Organic Digest & Detox Tea helps stimulate the lymphatic system, improves nutrient absorption, and flushes toxins through the urinary tract. This potent brew contains organic cumin, fennel, and coriander seeds, which help counter sluggish digestion.

6. Step Outside

Stanford research shows that spending time outside helps to soothe the mind and improves mental health. As the mind and the gut are intimately linked (the gut has a “mind” all its own called the enteric nervous system), spending time outside can be therapeutic for your stomach, too. Moreover, morning walks are considered a rasayana (rejuvenative), according to ancient Ayurvedic texts. “Get out in the morning for at least twenty minutes, even on a cloudy day, and walk,” says Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D., in this video. “Enjoy the beautiful, enlivening, refreshing air of the morning and the morning light. It will benefit your metabolism and your weight all day long and also help you sleep at night.”

7. Tone Your Tummy — on the Inside

While boosting your friendly bacteria intake is important, you also need to create an environment where it can take hold and flourish. Studies suggest that 85% of North American adults have at least one unwanted form of flora in their gut. Flora Tone contains herbs like holarrhena, caraway, vidanga, and ajowan, which were traditionally prescribed by ancient Ayurvedic practitioners to support patients’ natural ability to expel parasites and promote healthy intestinal flora.

Any favorite Ayurvedic gut-boosting tips you’d like to share? Drop us a line in the comments, below. And with that, we wish you a healthy new year!

*According to Charaka, one of the greatest of all ancient Ayurvedic sages, honey is considered toxic if heated; heating makes it extremely hard to digest and can lead to ama.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained ayurvedic expert, call or e-mail us for the number of a physician in your area. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.

Why You Should Cook Your Own Meals

We all know we should cook more and eat out less. But our lives are so hectic sometimes (or a lot of times!) it's just easier to order take out or hit a drive through on our way home. But honestly, no matter how busy we are, it's about priorities and making the time. We have to prep and set ourselves up for success. Brittany Wright, a Registered Dietician and Yoga Instructor, wrote a compelling article explaining why we should make cooking at home a priority. Read her article on Chopra.com below.

3 Reasons to Cook Your Own Meals

By Brittany Wright

As the saying goes, “You are what you eat.” The human body is made of trillions of cells involved in a continuous cycle of cell death and rebirth. Although genetics plays a large role in susceptibility to disease, you have an opportunity each and every day to feed your cells with vital life energy from the food you eat. The food you take in quite literally becomes the building blocks of your physical self.

 

These days, there is no shortage of fuel options. You can buy frozen meals, eat out at a nice restaurant, or grab something on the fly through a drive-through. With pre-packaged and dining-out options become increasingly inexpensive, it can be difficult to remember why you might ever choose to spend time in your kitchen!

The following are three benefits to choose to cook at home.

1. Higher Quality Ingredients

Cooking fats

Cooking your own food enables you to be involved in every step of the ingredient-selection process. Pre-packaged and restaurant foods are typically prepared using inexpensive and low-grade salad oils, such as soybean or vegetable oil. These types of oils promote inflammation.

Most home-cooked recipes, however, feature ghee, butter, coconut, or olive oil. By cooking your own food, you control the type of fats you consume; therefore, you can optimize your diet to prevent inflammation.

Real-food spices and seasonings

At home, you are in complete control over the spices used during the cooking process.

You may add less salt, opting instead for fresh or dried herbs. Herbs are medicinal plants. Rich in polyphenols (beneficial plant components), they deliver antioxidants to your body while helping your meals taste complex and satisfying.

Pre-packaged foods often contain fewer fresh or dried herbs, yet higher levels of salt. They also often contain isolated monosodium glutamate (MSG), a lab-created, powdered flavor enhancer, which has been linked with symptoms of intolerance in many individuals.

By cooking at home, you can limit your fuel to only real-food, whole ingredients.

2. Cooking as a Mindfulness-Based Practice

Western society has moved toward a culture of “hurry up to slow down.” You buy your food pre-made and eat it on the go, then slide into yoga class for an hour to slow down.

While yoga and meditation are healthy routine practices, you can work mindfulness into every aspect of your live—starting with meal preparation.

You can practice awareness through every step of the cooking process:

• Notice the colors of fruits and vegetables at the grocery store
• Savor the aroma of onions and garlic simmering in olive oil
• Pay close attention to the sounds of cooking: a boiling pot, peeling potatoes, dicing vegetables, or searing meat. All food prep stages have distinct sounds.
• Try to identify each of the six Ayurvedic tastes within your meal: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent. If you notice a flavor, shift your attention to the part of your mouth or tongue that senses that flavor the most distinctly.

3. Cooking for Connection

Food connects people—it gets you talking, lets you show your love or support for friends in need, and helps add to feelings of comfort and well-being. When a loved one is ill, you show your concern by cooking a pot of soup. When you celebrate a birthday, you bake a cake. Food is connection, comfort, and celebration that connects us all.

Cooking with children is important not only for creating memories, but also for their health.

Fewer Behavioral Problems in Children

Research conducted by the American Medical Association found that adolescents who had family meals seven times weekly, compared to those who reportedly had family meals two times or less per week:

• Were less likely to use tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana
• Had higher grade point averages
• Had lower depressive symptoms
• Were less likely to attempt suicide

Establish a Foundation of Food Variety

As you know, eating habits are formed in childhood and are difficult to change as an adult. Research shows that children who eat meals at home are more likely to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as drink fewer soft drinks. Furthermore, children who are engaged in the cooking process are more likely to grow to be adults who feel comfortable cooking for themselves and loved ones.

Undeniably, cooking does take time. However, by focusing on whole food ingredients, staying mindful throughout, and involving your friends or family in the process, you can change the process from seemingly time-consuming to time-fulfilling.

Bon appétit!

Author 

Brittany Wright