How to do Alternate Nostril Breathing (Pranayama)

Pranayama is one of my Top 10 Ayurvedic practices to stay balanced. I learned how to do do pranayama breathing in 1987 in rural Québec. I've done it for many, many years. What's strange to me, is that for the 6 years I was too weak to leave the house most days, or function in day-to-day routines at home, I stopped doing it. Why? I should have known enough to realize I had a severe Vata imbalance. I should have realized that if I was barely breathing as I lay in bed, on the sofa, or on the back patio, too weak to lift a finger, that I needed to rekindle my life energy, my prana, or chi. How? Through breathing. Silly me. I've learned this: The most important Ayurvedic exercise for

How to make ghee. Why you should eat and use it.

Ghee is one of the foundational, pure foods that are the bedrock of a healing, balanced Ayurvedic diet. Kapha body types are the only constitutions that don't do well with much ghee in their diet, since they best favor no dairy. Ghee is the same as clarified butter (if you've ever had it as a dipping sauce for

How to make kitchari (kitchadi)

Here is a really well-done video that shows you how to make Kitchari. It's India's version of chicken soup on a cold day. It's made for children, for when you're sick, and it's wonderful when you grow old. It's also

Baby bath care like you've never seen. Lucky baby!

Beginning at the 45 second mark, this video shows how babies are bathed and massaged in India, using Ayurvedic massage and oils, both for the baby and mom. There is some public TV channel-style nudity, so if you're not comfortable with seeing nudity, stop the video at the 2:30 minute point.

What is Prana?

Prana (प्राण, prāṇa) is the Sanskrit world that means "the primary and all round motion of Life Energy." In Ayurveda "praṇā vāyu" is the basic vāyu (wind, air) from which all the other vāyus arise. (Source: Wikipedia)

The article on Prana below, written by certified Ayurvedic practitioner, Vladimir Kazinets, is a good reminder about how much we thrive on, and need, vital prana, or chi, or energy in our life. I've included the text below, with permission.

I noticed Vladimir uses the word, "prana cultivation." It makes me feel like a gardener, setting about to grow seeds of light, energy, or prana within and around me so that I can be filled with more light. I want to be sunshine, and if I want to be sunshine, I need to learn how to grow it.

So now, I'm going to post this article, turn off my computer, and continue to cultivate my seeds of light as I feel the open windows in my rooms, the taste of fresh fruit in my mouth, and the peace of lying down in my warm spa room, listening to music. I don't feel like walking outside in the harsh dry wind, so some good stretches will give this gardener the feeling of satisfaction in having cultivated her prana garden well on a day when she just wanted to sleep.

Things we can do to increase our Prana
By Vladimir Kazinets 
Certified Ayurvedic Medicine practitioner 
Member of NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association) 
Founder and clinical director of holistic healing center House of Ayurveda (Northbrook, IL)

"Ancient holistic medicinal system Ayurveda says that all forms of life are infused with essential energy, which is necessary for vitality and longevity. This field of energy is called differently in different holistic systems. In Chinese medicine it is called “chi”, in Japan it is known as "qi," Egyptians named it "ka" and in Ayurveda and Yoga this important life force is known as "Prana."

According to B.K.S. Iyengar, “Prana is the energy permeating the universe at all levels. It is physical, mental, intellectual, sexual, spiritual, and cosmic energy.”

Prana is the vital life energy which flows through and around our bodies, and it is responsible for the

YOU CAN ELIMINATE TOXINS BY 50%

A double-blind study showed that Ayurvedic purification treatments can successfully eliminate environmentally toxic substances such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB's) and pesticides from our body,

VATA BODY TYPE {DOSHA}: Explained by Aparna Khanolkar

I posted this earlier, but am reposting it again now, so that it's next to the Pitta and Kapha Dosha videos. Out of the many videos that explain the Ayurvedic Dosha's, I find Aparna Khanolkar's the easiest to follow and understand. She has an in depth understanding of Ayurveda, and used to be the head chef at the Chopra Center. Here's to living a balanced life.

PITTA BODY TYPE {DOSHA}: Explained by Aparna Khanolkar

Here, Aparna Kanolkar explains the nature of the Pitta dosha, or body type. She explains tools, exercises, and foods that help a Pitta person stay in balance. Aparna used to be the head chef at the Chopra Center. I really like her explanatiions, and hope you find them helpful, too.

KAPHA BODY TYPE {DOSHA}: Explained by Aparna Khanolkar

Here, Aparna Khanolkar explains the Kapha Dosha, or body type. From the many videos that explain the Ayurvedic doshas, I especially like her video series. Aparna used to be the head chef at the Chopra Center. Her explanations are easy to understand, and she is a truly beautiful person.

HOW I DYED A TOWEL WITH TURMERIC

Now that I've been enjoying turmeric facial masks, I've learned it's difficult for me not to get little stains on the towel or wash cloth. So, it seemed a lot easier to have a few towels that were already that beautiful, turmeric color! I put them in the sink, filled the sink with warm water, sprinkled 1/4 cup of turmeric (1/2

RECIPE: Morning Warm Lemon Water Tonic

This morning while I was at the sink tidying up, my husband apparently grabbed a glass of what he thought was lemonade to gulp down. He'd been too frantic to sit down and eat breakfast since he was

NO LOVE AT HOME? TRY THIS

Try a simple Ayurvedic trick to get your relationship with your loved one back on track. Before sharing the tip, it's important to understand what is behind why it works. Ayurveda kindly approaches the

HURT AND WRONGED? "I AM GOOD."

This story is identical to the Ayurvedic principle of Ahimsa:  cultivating a harmonious life, and causing no harm. For parents who are trying to help their children get along, or anyone who has recently felt hurt or

ONE GRAIN MORE

A hilarious parody of Les Misérables {my favorite musical drama of all time} directed by Michael Bihovsky and Lily Bayrock. It also makes fun of how we think we need to make pseudo breads, buns, milks, and cheeses to be gluten and dairy free. One more reason I feel happy I cook Ayurvedically. It gets us out of that American diet box of, "Hmm, how can I keep eating what I like to eat, without really eating it? As long as it looks like bread, I'll force myself to eat it." Thanks for the link for this, Mom!

KOREAN SPA EGG RECIPE

Every once in awhile I get carried away and forget to eat lunch, which needs to be my heaviest meal of the day. Or, on the days I'm feeling no strength, I physically can't create, prepare, and clean up a meal. So, these spa eggs are an easy-to-make, easy-to-peel snack, and you can make as many at a time as your

WHY DOES A BIG LUNCH HELP YOU FEEL BETTER?

I had no idea how much better I would feel if I made my lunch my biggest meal. When I learned that someone like me who has a weak digestive fire--or, to put it gracefully, who struggles with the food bolus

Turmeric Face Mask to Lighten Dark Spots

I started doing this Ayurvedic beauty routine last week when I read that it whitens and moisturizes the skin, and supposedly gets rid of dark spots. It calls for turmeric, garbanzo (chick pea) flour, milk, lemon juice, and raw honey. The girl on this video comes close to the recipe. I ordered a 1/2 lb. of organic turmeric from Banyan Botanicals, I think, and have a good