Nadi Shodhana Pranayama or alternate nostril breathing, is a yogic breathing technique that clears the energetic channels in our body. It can be use to calm the mind, reduce vata and pitta, prepare the body for deep meditation, or simply to navigate daily life if...
Sesame Seed Granola Crisps are a versatile, nutrient dense vegan snack that taste amazing! They are gluten-free and a great alternative to bread or cookies. I like to use them as a garnish for soups, crumbled into my morning yogurt or onto salads. They will...
Are you stressed out? Try this poppy seed tea cake! It’s gluten free and low in sugar so you can enjoy it for breakfast or a guilt-free snack any time of day. Poppy seeds have been used in Ayurveda and other ancient cultures for their many...
Risotto is an easy, healthy weeknight meal that is always a hit with family and friends. It's grounding for fall and satisfying for winter months. In this variation, I'm serving it with cranberry pesto and a splash of pumpkin puree - a delicious complement to...
Fresh ginger root puréed with roasted pumpkin makes a healthy, creamy soup that is perfect for fall, winter or spring. Vegan, tridoshic and delicious! This variation is garnished with arugula pesto and for the omnivores, I've added some lobster and shrimp. When cooking for a family or...
If you’re looking for a morning pick me up without the jitters from caffeine, you’ll love this delicious Cacao-Tulsi Latte. Lightly sweetened with natural dates and flavored with cinnamon stick, it is soothing to the nerves, nourishing to the heart and clarifying to the mind. (Makes...
Does your morning ritual involve multiple rounds with the snooze alarm button followed by copious amounts of caffeine to turbo charge the day and clear the cobwebs from your brain? Insomnia, or the inability to sleep, can be detrimental to your health and happiness. Sleep is...
Dashi clear broth with gluten-free buckwheat soba noodles. Recipe for the dashi broth in The Essential Ayurvedic Cookbook available at Amazon. Dashi Broth is easy to make and can be stored in the freezer in 2 cup containers, ready to go when you need a quick...
This quiche is great for holiday entertaining or a lazy Sunday brunch. It has a silky custard filling and an earthy buckwheat-mushroom crust which makes for a delectable combination. Recipe coming in my new e-book. Sign up for the email list to be alerted when the new...
Home-made chocolate syrup is an indulgent treat that is easy to make and doesn’t contain any of the chemicals found in pre-packaged products. I use it to make hot cocoa in the winter, but it can also be added to smoothies or used to top...
Squash blossoms are in season and popping up at farmers markets all over LA. Low in calories, high in calcium, iron, Vitamin A and C, these delicate beauties will add nutrition and sophistication to your summer menus! Look for blossoms with tightly closed buds. They are...
Light and refreshing, this tequila-spiked kombucha is perfect for a summer party. I make this with GTS Synergy Mojito flavored Kombucha. It is loaded with healthy probiotics and macai berry and has no added sugars. I add a small amount of hand crafted El Tesoro...
This delicious smoothie will soothe your nerves and clear the clutter from your mind. About Tulsi: Tulsi, or “Holy Basil” was used by ancient cultures for its healing and rejuvenating qualities. In India, it is considered a sacred plant with sattvic characteristics. It is pungent, heating,...
Celebrate the end of the fall harvest (aka pumpkin season) with this Chocolate Pumpkin Chai Latte using Tusli tea. Tulsi (or Holy Basil) is a sacred herb used in ayurveda for its rejuvenative properties. Naturally caffeine-free, it is a tonic for the nerves – perfect...
Ayurveda with a Mexican Twist! Do you think an ayurveda diet limits you to eating Indian curries? Think again. Ayurveda is about eating foods that are balancing to your constitution. Balance can be achieved by adjusting the quantity of food, the combinations of food and varying the...
When you're running late and don't have time for breakfast whip up this delicious Oatmeal Smoothie and take your breakfast “to go”. Comforting and warming, it has heart-healthy oats and almond butter protein to kick start your day. Low in sugar, it is a healthy, fun breakfast...
FEELING UNGROUNDED? In the fall, the air becomes cooler and drier and sometimes windy. These characteristics are similar to the qualities of the ayurveda dosha called “vata”. Vata is referred to as the air or wind dosha, because it is cold, light, dry, rough and mobile,...
My local co-op market had purple sweet potatoes which I made into a lovely soup. Their purple color comes from anthocyanins (the pigments responsible for the red and purple in cherries, strawberries and purple carrots). Anthocyanins have beneficial health effects (they scavenge cancer-causing free radicals,...
This is a Yucatan-influenced lime and chicken soup that is comforting and healing. Traditionally, it is made with "lima agria" or bitter lime, but if you cannot find those, substitute regular limes or key limes. From an ayurvedic standpoint, this soup is well combined and has...
Served warm, this tri-doshic salad is suitable for fall. This is a good example of ayurveda food combining and representing the six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent). Ingredients are gluten-free, real food: rainbow quinoa, french lentils, pumpkin seeds, escarole, lemon zest, fresh mint and...
Easy and elegant, this fall soup works equally well as an antidote for a long day at the office or the main dish for a last minute casual dinner party. Lightly seasoned with mint and a hint of tarragon, this delicious vegetarian meal is easy to make with...
Baklava reinvented for fall and health-conscious foodies! This delicious pumpkin-spiced baklava has a rich flavor and texture that will please everyone. I've reduced the butter and sugar, so go ahead and indulge with this healthier version of the traditional Turkish treat. If you haven’t worked with phyllo...
WHEN YOUR CELLS DON'T RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER Autoimmune disorders occur when your body’s cells fail to recognize each other and mistakenly start attacking healthy cells. If left untreated, this eventually creates inflammation and can cascade into a variety of diseases such as: Rheumatoid arthritis (most prevalent),...
The holidays just got less stressful! You can make this delicious, healthy loaf in minutes then have plenty of time to enjoy the company of your guests. Seasonal sustenance and clean eating for the fall and winter. Serve with brown rice, maple-roasted Brussels sprouts and Ginger...
Kabocha and okra are abundant in the fall and are ideal for grounding vata. The skin of kabocha is edible, but make sure it is “organic” to avoid pesticide contamination. Serve along with cranberry sauce to add a colorful side-dish to your holiday spread! Serves 4...
REMOVE STRESS & RESTORE YOUTH Ayurveda seasonal cleanses are designed to clear toxins, prolong life and rejuvenate every cell in your body leaving a radiant youthful glow. Ayurveda, an ancient system of longevity from India, has a long-established practice of cleansing in the spring and fall. Unlike...
WHAT IS CONSTIPATION Have you pooped today? If you haven’t, you may be constipated. Other signs that your bowel movements are less than optimal include: constant straining; feeling like your bowel movement was incomplete; passing dry, hard, painful “rabbit pellets”; or feeling bloated, crampy or full...
Introduction to ayurveda Learn about ayurveda – the sister science to yoga and an ancient holistic system of medicine from India. It is still used today because – it works! This sequential series of classes will be taught with a combination of interactive lectures and experiential...
Oct 2, 2014- Lunchtime Meditation Class for Beginners/CFA Society of LA Are you stressed out? Try Meditation. This lunchtime meditation class for beginners will help you de-stress, refocus and energize (lunch will be served after the meditation). Seated in chairs, you will be guided through 30-minutes of...
September 28, 2014 – Ayurveda Fall Cleanse Feeling a little unbalanced? Seasonal transitions are the perfect time for a physical, mental and spiritual tune-up. In this workshop, we will learn how to do a gentle, food-based cleanse specifically designed for the transitional season of fall. We will...
Ayurveda: What's My Dosha? Saturday, July 26th from 1-2 p.m. Learn about ayurveda – the sister science to yoga and an ancient holistic system of medicine from India. It is still used today because – it works! This workshop will be fun and interactive. No prior knowledge of...
[caption id="attachment_923" align="alignleft" width="175"] Pitta Cooling Summer Dal[/caption] INTRODUCTION TO AYURVEDA Sunday, July 20th from 1:30-3:30pm Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga and an ancient holistic system of medicine from India. It is still used today because – it works! Learn basic ayurveda principles and how...