Outdoor Fireplace Design

Haugen/Zohar Architects designed an outdoor fireplace for a storytelling at a children's school in Trondheim, Norway that I've thought about quite a bit, since coming across a photo a few years ago. It would be a lovely addition to my dream Ayurvedic Spa. Surprisingly, it's very difficult for the wooden structure to catch fire, according to the architects. More below the pictures. Thank you to Dave from Contemporist Design for making these pictures and the explanation below available.

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,