The Science Of Self-Healing

Lord Dhanvantari

Ayurveda Workshops & Corporate Wellness

We offer 3 Levels of Ayurveda Education. Each workshop is 2 hours and provides a great basis for expanding your knowledge of Ayurveda. In addition we provide personal assessments that provide an individual a personalized treatment plan specific health concerns.

In addition we can bring Ayurveda to you and your friends, co-workers or employees to educate and teach how to achieve balance within the mind-body. We can cater our workshops anywhere from 1 to 4 hours in length to best suit your needs.

Introduction to Ayurveda

In Ayurveda you want to begin with understanding your constitution and how it impacts you.  Since this science is based on the elements of Space (Ether), Air, Fire, Water, and Earth, your constitution is a combination of any and all of these elements. This is how these elements govern your mind/body.

Vata

Vata is the principle of motion, and is responsible for everything in the body which moves. It is the combination of the elements air and ether (or space.) Vata is said to be mobile, light, dry, cool, rough, subtle, and clear. An excess of these qualities will aggravate Vata. Vata people tend to be thin, dark haired, wirey, fearful and nervous, with very active minds and bodies. They are often on the go (or on the phone!) Vata has its seat in the colon, and one of its main symptoms of aggravation is excess lower bowel gas. Vata is also prominent in the hair, nails, skin and joints and excess Vata will cause dry skin and hair, wrinkles, and cracking joints, and as you might guess, people become more Vata as they age.

Pitta

Pitta is the principle of heat. Pitta is composed of the elements fire and water, which may seem incompatible until you think of digestive juices like hydrochloric acid which is liquid, but also firey. Pitta people have a medium, often muscular build, ruddy complexion and often blonde or red hair. They tend emotionally toward anger, impatience and aggressiveness. They are the classic Type A’s. The seat of Pitta is in the small intestine, and it is responsible for digestion and assimilation. Pitta qualities are light (as in bright), oily, hot, mobile and liquid. Common Pitta conditions include skin rashes, ulcers, heart disease, fevers, inflammation and irritation.

Kapha

Kapha is the principle of groundedness and stability. Kapha is composed of the water and earth elements. Kapha qualities are cold, dense, oily, heavy, slow, slimy and static. Kapha people tend to be overweight, retain fluid, and are sluggish in general. They have a calm, jovial disposition, but can also be possessive or greedy. Kapha people need to lighten up and let go. The seat of Kapha is in lungs, and Kapha people often get lung congestion and excess mucus. They also

Ayurvedic Skin Care

Abhyanga – Ayurvedic Oil Massage

Abhyanga can be done daily for deep nurturing, soothing dry skin, a calming effect to the mind and body and to restore balance. This is how it is done:

• Make sure the room is warm (I use my bathroom)

• 2 to 3 ounces untoasted, organic sesame oil

• 1 small glass bottle with a cap

• Hot tap water in the sink or a bowl

• An old towel or mat (oil may stain)

• Paper towels

Directions:

1. Pour the oil into a bottle with a cap. Place the bottle in the hot water until it is warm.
2. Pour a little oil into your palms (test the temperature of the oil first), then begin to apply the oil starting at the crown of you head, using outward circles with your fingertips. If you don’t want get the oil in your hair do the massage without it.
3. Work from head to toe, moving down your body, until every part is oiled.
4. Massage the oil into your skin for 10 to 12 minutes using long strokes up and down on long bones and circular strokes on your joints, chest and belly.
5. Let the oil soak in (even for up to an hour). Sit quietly, meditate and breathe deeply while you let your body rejuvenate and take in the nourishment.
6. Wash the oil off. Make sure to pat off any excess oil with a paper towel. Be mindful of the bottoms of your feet since the oil can make the floor like a skating rink.
7. Cleanse your skin with warm water and a gentle soap. If you oiled your hair use shampoo and then rinse it out well.
8. Get dressed and continue getting ready for your day. What a way to wake up feeling grounded and warm and kiss that dry skin good-bye.

Don’t put a towel with oil on it in the dryer as it can cause a fire!

Cleansing Kitchari

This Indian comfort food provides strength and energy while you’re fasting. Kitchari“a soupy porridge made from rice and mung beans, lightly spiced with ginger, cilantro, and other spices” is considered a fasting food and is used to purify digestion and cleanse systemic toxins.

Ayurvedic physicians often prescribe a kitchari diet before, during, and after panchakarma, a rejuvenative treatment that cleanses toxins stored in bodily tissues as it restores systemic balance. Kitchari provides solid nourishment while allowing the body to devote energy to healing. You can safely subsist on kitchari anytime in order to build vitality and strength as it helps balance all three doshas. For restless vata, the warm soup is grounding; for fiery pitta, its spices are calming; and for chilly kapha, it provides healing warmth.

Ayurveda believes that all healing begins with the digestive tract, and kitchari can give it a much-needed rest from constantly processing different foods while providing essential nutrients. The blend of rice and split mung beans offers an array of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Its mixture of spices is believed to kindle the digestive fire, the Ayurvedic description for your innate digestive power, which can be weakened by poor food combinations.

Recipe

First, rinse one cup of split yellow mung beans and soak for several hours. Set aside. In a blender, liquefy one tablespoon of peeled, chopped ginger; and a handful of chopped cilantro with one-half cup of water. In a large saucepan, lightly brown one-half teaspoon cinnamon; one-quarter teaspoon each of cardamom, pepper, clove powder, turmeric, salt; and three bay leaves (remove before serving) in three tablespoons of ghee, or butter.

Drain the mung dal and then stir it into the spice mixture in the saucepan. Next, add one cup of raw basmati rice. Stir in the blended spice and coconut mixture, followed by six cups of water. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook on low heat for approximately 25 to 30 minutes until soft.