Before there was Feng Shui, there was Vastu, the “science of architecture”or the Indian art of living in harmony with our environment.  Just as we have relationships with the people in our lives, we have a relationship with our home and work space.  When we are comfortable and happy in our environment, we are more productive and easier to get along with.  Vastu is a sister science to Ayurveda, and like Ayurveda, it uses the five elements in its design recommendations.  Knowing your dosha will help you to determine how to better arrange your home and office so that you are “in the flow” and at your best.

For more information, check out Kathleen Cox’s book, Vastu Living. (amazon link)

In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the beginning of Kapha season which runs approximately March through June.  During Kapha season, gardens are blooming, and the air is moist.  Even if we’re not Kapha dominant, we may feel the effects of Kapha on our system with seasonal allergies and some general lethargy.  To help keep Kapha in balance, engage in some Kapha balancing activities, exercise more vigorously, avoid sugar and dairy, and add spice to your foods.  Try cinnamon or ginger tea in the morning as a natural pick-me-up!

If you have kids you know that there is always some bug that’s “going around” and your kid is bound to come home with it sooner or later.  Kids have their own little set of health issues that they face, it’s just part of growing up.  My first born had ear infections one after the other.  My younger son constantly battles IBS and digestive problems.  My nephew has asthma.  My niece has allergies.  It seems like every kid has something that they have to deal with.  Having a knowledge of Ayurveda can be so helpful in parenting!   When you know your child’s dosha, you can strive to keep him or her in balance, so that these little issues are not such a nuisance.  I have a basic introduction to Ayurveda and parenting in the“What’s Your Dosha, Baby?” book.  And if you’d like to learn more about Ayurvedic health care for children, John Douillard has a wonderful book called, “Perfect Health for Kids.”  So many of his suggestions are applicable to adults, as well.  Everything from ways to stay fully hydrated, to tips for different learning styles.

Perfect Health for Kids by John Douillard – on amazon

There are so many different kinds of cookbooks out today, everything from The South Beach Diet to Cajun cooking, there are all kinds of foods for every taste.  So, what is Ayurvedic cooking all about?  Ayurveda helps us to choose and prepare foods that contribute to the health of our body, mind and spirit.  It looks at the balance of each individual, and teaches us the best ways to eat for our well-being.  It’s about harmony.  It’s great to learn to cook Ayurvedically because we are then able to have more choices, and more control over our food habits.  I have a few of my favorite recipes in the back of the “What’s Your Dosha, Baby?” book and I am always reading Ayurvedic cookbooks and trying out new dishes.  One of my favorite cookbooks is by Dr. Vasant Lad, and his wife Usha.  This couple spends time together in the kitchen, and at the table, which is so important in a loving relationship.

Ayurveda is the science of life.  It explains the nature of everything in the universe.  We know how it teaches us to take care of ourselves, through diet, exercise and lifestyle recommendations according to our dosha, or mind/body types.  But did you know that Ayurveda provides lots of remedies for our pets, too?  It’s true!  Our pets can get out of balance and it shows in excessive scratching or dry skin, a cough, arthritis, digestive problems, and even parasites.  I was so happy to learn that Balance Ayurvedic carries a line of Ayurvedic Pet Care products!  They’re the only ones I know that do this  and the products are wonderful.  Click on the Balance Ayurvedic banner below for more information.  Suki (my kitty cat!) and I heartily recommend it!

Balance Ayurvedic banner

In Sanskrit, Mandala means circle.  It is basically a geometric presentation of shapes and forms brought together to represent some aspect of the universe.  In Jungian psychology, the mandala represents unity.  There is a beautiful mandala on the cover of my “What’s Your Dosha, Baby? book and people often ask me where it came from.  My publisher found the artist, Kim Aaronson, and we have since become friends.  He is a very talented artist, and I love the way that this particular mandala represents the love that is found in relationships.  If you’d like to see more of Kim’s work, visit his site at:
http://www.mandalaart.com.

Yoga is good for everyone; it benefits us both mentally and physically.  I’ve been working on a DVD called “DoshaYoga” which will be out later this year.  While doing research for this project, I found that there are certain poses which are recommended for each of the doshas.
-Vatas do well with poses (also called asanas) that are grounding and calming:  Sun salutation, Lotus, Lion, Tree, and Triangle are examples.
-Pittas benefit from poses that are cooling and relaxing.  For example: Moon salutation, Half Moon, Boot, Fish, Bow, and Tortoise.
-Kaphas do best with asanas that are energizing and releasing: Downward Dog, Upward Dog, Handstand, Shoulder Stand, Plow, and Camel.

Food plays a big role in the Ayurvedic lifestyle.  There are three parts to the digestive process: digestion, assimilation, and elimination of food.  When our digestion is efficient, the rest follows more easily, so we get the optimal benefit from our food.  When our digestion is strong, our immune system is strong.  Here are some guidelines to help boost our agni and improve our digestion: -Sit down while eating. -Do not read or watch TV while eating, focus on the food. -Eat at approximately the same times every day. -Stop eating before you are completely full. -Allow three to six hours between meals for digestion. -Avoid ice-cold food and beverages. -Sit quietly for a few minutes after eating.

In India, Annapurna is the goddess of food, and specifically grain and corn.  She watches over the world’s supply of food, and feeds our soul when our spirit hungers.  The mantra, or prayer, used to bless food before a meal is: “Om Annapurnayai Namaha.” Translated, this means: “We give thanks to Annapurna, the Goddess of food.

A strand of mala beads is very much like a rosary.  It is used in meditation, to help us keep count of our mantras.  There are 108 beads on a string.  The number 108 is significant on many levels.  It is representative of the nine planets, multiplied by the twelve astrological signs.  In numerology, the numbers in 108 add up to 9, which is the number of completeness and wholeness.  The strand is help together with a special bead called the “Meru.”  When you reach this bead, the mala is to be turned and the movement continued in the other direction.  Mala beads can be worn as a necklace, with the Meru bead in the front, or as a bracelet wrapped around your wrist.