How to live well? - A holistic approach to health

Why are we all different?

Fri, 01 May 2020 10:40:24 GMT

And why do we need different fuel to feel the best

We are all different that’s a fact, but have you ever wondered why? How can some people be hyperactive and change their mind all the time, while others are peaceful and prefer stillness? Why are some so interested in food and others can forget about eating even when they are hungry? Why are there so many different shapes and sizes? Ayurveda has the answer for those questions, it explains nicely how every human on this planet can be so different.

In Ayurveda every organic and non-organic matter is made up of the five elements air, ether, fire, water and earth. These elements are the building blocks of life. We are all born with different proportions of these elements in our body and mind (depends on the father and mother’s constitution, if they had any imbalances at conception, the time of year conception took place etc.). The manifestation of the elements are the doshas, Vata (air + ether), pitta (fire + water) and kapha (earth + water). Many people have one main dosha, some have two dominant doshas and few have all 3 in similar proportions.

Vata can never get too warm, have cold feet and hands, has dry skin and hair. She talks a lot, have lots of crazy and creative ideas and is always on the move.

Pitta is the organiser, the one who has a plan and organised enough to execute it. Very smart and quick thinking but can get hangry so feed them on time or they will eat you!

Kapha is the one who is well cushioned, and has a huge heart, likes to cook and feed others. Prefers to stay still but would benefit from exercising the most!

Of course, there is more to each bundle of energies than the above but this gives you a pretty good idea where you or your loved ones might fit in. Once you know which energies are dominating your body and mind it will be easier to stay in balance and enjoy a healthy and happy life. Imbalances in the long run can lead to diseases. It’s good to bear in mind it’s always easier to fix an imbalance than a disease. Once you feel something is not all right probably one or more elements need rebalancing in your body.

Before or during my consultations or massages I always try to find which elements are out of balance in the body and then I suggest nutritional changes to bring it back to balance and during massages use medicated Ayurvedic oils on the body for the same reason. If you would like to know more about how to stay in balance or get back to balance don't hesitate to contact me as I love spreading the goodness of Ayurveda.

We can either book in a 15 min free consultation over the phone or you can email me your questions and I’ll be happy to answer them.

Hope to hear from you soon and keep safe,

Melinda x

Does your GUT need a break?

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 18:55:53 GMT

Cook up some kitchari Ayurveda's one pot wonder dish

After the heavy foods we all ate this winter, we might - but our digestive tract for sure - crave something lighter, easy to digest but still delicious. How you know your gut is tired? Bloating, constipation, tiredness, depression they are all connected to our second brain the GUT. Ayurveda’s favourite healing food is Kitchari, it is easy to cook and easy to digest, very satisfactory to the taste buds as it contains all the 6 tastes. You only need spices, mung dal or mung bean (don't forget to soak it!) some veg and you have a one pot wonder on your plate.

For breakfast have something easy, you could poach an apple or pear with some cinnamon, cloves, star anise or bake some apple, pear, mango with a bit of cinnamon in the oven. By cooking the fruits we make it easier for the body to digest, so there is more energy going towards recovering/healing the gut. For lunch and dinner just whip the Kitchari together and your gut will thank you for it. It is a one pot wonder, it contains all 6 tastes and it makes this dish greatly pleasing to your taste buds.

I don’t use a set recipe any more just use spices I fancy and veg that I have already at home and cook up a nice batch. I’ve experimented with different recipes before and they are all a very good starting point, the more you make it the more you will know how you like yours! So next time you are out shopping make sure you get some mung dal or mung beans - they are tridoshic - good for vata, pitta and kapha!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup basmati rice

1 cup mung dal (split yellow) or mung bean

6 cups (approx.) water

1/2 to 1 inch fresh ginger, chopped or grated – if you are Vata or Kapha you can add as much as you like!

A bit of salt (1/4 tsp)

2 tsp ghee

1/2 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp cumin powder

1/2 tsp whole cumin seeds (can just double the cumin powder instead)

1/2 tsp mustard seeds – if you are Pitta or feeling Pitta at the moment just leave mustard seeds out!

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 pinch asafoetida/hing (can leave it out if don’t have at home)

Handful of fresh cilantro leaves

1 and 1/2 cups assorted vegetables (whatever you can find in the fridge)

PREPARATION

Wash the rice and the dal/bean separately in at least 2 changes of water. Soak them separately for 20-30 min or more if you are using mung beans.

Saute the seeds in a bit of ghee until they pop, add the other spices and keep stirring until it releases a bit of aroma.

Drain the rice and dahl and add to the spices, add some salt, add the water to the rice and dal and cook covered until it becomes soft, about 25-30 minutes.

While it is cooking, prepare any vegetables you have at hand and suits your constitution. Cut them into small pieces and add it to the cooked rice and dal mixture and cook for 10 minutes.

Your one pot healing wonder dish is ready just chop some fresh coriander and mix it into the dish. It’s ready to serve! Enjoy! You can thank me later!

Spices don't just add great taste to food but they all have some healing qualities too. Try to incorporate more spices in your cooking for overall well-being.

About Ayurvedic massage

183:818841049 (Melinda Papp) — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 15:31:52 GMT

A compliment to the body, mind and soul

There are many different types of massages and all of them are beneficial in a way or another. You wonder why is Ayurvedic massage so special? Read on!

Ayurvedic massage is part of the Ayurvedic healing system (there is a post about what Ayurveda is). It is a 1.5-2 hour whole-body massage, which is performed with warm herbs infused oils. Using the special massage strokes and the herbal infused oils we encourage the body cells to remove the toxins and absorb the medicated oils. The warm oil touching the skin is one of life's greatest pleasure and knowing it nourishes our skin and other organs in our beautiful body makes it more desirable. You might think 2 hours is way too long for a massage, but trust me on this one, once you are on the massage table you don't feel the time, there is only timeless calmness and when the 2 hours finished you wish it could have lasted longer.

Regular massage with oils gives the skin a glow and makes it feel smooth, it also prevents the development of many skin disorders such as eczema, blisters, scabies and seborrhea. During the massage an electrochemical balance is created in the body. The body's immune system becomes strong and toxins are eliminated, longevity is naturally increased.

As part of Ayurvedic massage you will receive (depending on the type of treatment you choose) :

- Marma point - point of vital life force stimulation

- Chakra massage and

- Pinda Sweda treatment

Marma points

Marma points are a very important part of Ayurvedic anatomy. Marmas are an anatomical site where different tissues (muscle, veins, arteries, nerves, lymph, tendons, ligaments, bones, joints) of the body meet, there are 107 in the human body. These junctions also form the seats of the vital life force prana. Stimulating these points promotes physical and mental rehabilitation. The internal organs and systems of the body react to manual stimulation of these points

Chakra Massage

Chakra massage could be one of the most intense experiences of your life. We humans love touch, it stimulates the immune system, it can relax or excite. Touch brings healing to the body and mind, connect us not only with ourselves but others as well.

If you don't know about chakras here is a very good article to start with: https://chopra.com/articles/what-is-a-chakra

The practitioner will be connecting with you at an energetic level as well. During the massage there is constant energy exchange between two bodies. The two human beings are also two electromagnetic forces. When we receive or give a massage, we are not only working the muscles, skin and bones but we are working with physical and mental energies as well.

There is a simple law, Energy flows from a higher level to a lower level. The process is really simple, the recipient surrenders to being massaged and allows the body to relax. In this state the energy of the therapist can enter into the receiver’s body, she can work with affection and care which keeps her vibrational level high. I hope this explains why we find some therapist more appealing than others, we just get their vibrations better. If you have an appointment and you do not approve the therapist at first sight the massage will not be as beneficial as the massage with a practitioner who has soothing vibrations, which will make the massage especially beneficial.

Pinda Sweda

Pinda Sweda is a form of sweat therapy, it induces sweat by using little heated bags filled with herbs. This provides relief from pain and rejuvenate and strengthen the soft tissues, joints and muscles in the body, helps to break down toxins and fat deposits.

Ayurveda

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 00:42:26 GMT

The science of life

You might have heard about Ayurveda, but if not read on for a very brief introduction.

Ayurveda is the oldest natural healing systems that has its origins in the Vedic culture of India. It was developed more than 5000 years ago and been practiced ever since. The Sanskrit term Ayurveda translates to “science of life.” It is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between mind, body and spirit.

All things in the universe, both living and nonliving, are made up of the same five natural elements, space, air, fire, water and earth. Ayurveda groups these five elements into three basic types of energy and functional principles. These principles are ( we use the Sanskrit words as it is not possible to translate into English) Vata (space+air), Pitta (fire+water), and Kapha (water+earth), and also the variations of them.

VATA [air + ether] types are enthusiastic, creative, quick witted, like to move, open minded and free spirited. They have irregular and erratic appetite. Naturally thin and have a high metabolic rate. When out of balance prone to anxiety, worry, memory loss, panic, weak digestion, phobias, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder.

PITTA [fire + water] types are competitive, ambitious, highly intelligent, passionate and naturally charismatic & charming. Have naturally strong digestive fire, medium frame and soft warm skin. When out of balance prone to impatience, being critical or judgemental, anger, obsessive behaviour, aggressiveness, controlling behaviour.

KAPHA [water + earth] types are patient grounded, caring, reliable and compassionate. Have soft lustrous skin, healthy and robust physiology. They love food. When aout of balance prone to depression, overweight, lack of motivation, weak digestion, lethargy, greed.

According to Ayurveda your natural state is HEALTH, BALANCE and HAPPINESS. Toxin can be anything that enters your body and mind and creates an imbalance in your finely tuned system. By eating the right food, living a lifestyle suitable for the individual dosha ( dosha is the unique mind-body make up, vata, pitta or kapha) and taking some herbs Ayurveda can help to reach optimal health.