So many people around the world today feel tired and stressed from busy days and lives. While we might think that getting more sleep is the solution, true rest involves more than just sleep.
Read More
The Yogic prayer before eating, sometimes referred to as "Brahmarpranam” is a practice that acknowledges the interconnectedness of all beings. By expressing gratitude for the food, it helps to mindfully practice the process of eating - and creates an awareness of the energy and effort that has gone towards to bringing sustenance and meals to the table.
Read More
Here is a sample menu for a 3 day cleanse, that I usually follow and also recommend to others….
Read More
Food consumption today goes beyond pure sustenance and nourishment – it has become a vehicle for connection, socialising, activity and significantly – emotional regulation.
Nourishment is one of the first and key ways that humans learn to feel cared for and held. It brings back memories of old times, family, friends, culture, tradition… it gives a sense of belonging, safety, comfort.
However, as we move through the ‘waves’ and cycles of life it is easy to start attaching to food for safety, comfort and often for distraction. This seeking of comfort leads to over attachment, sluggishness, suppression of the real issues. It leads to a low and overburdened agni (digestive fire), causing excessive and then imbalanced kapha dosha (earth, water elements) and beyond this it leads to the formation of ama (toxins) from undigested food and also emotional matter.
Read More
We are pleased to announce that we now offer Remedial Massage Services along side our traditional Ayurvedic Massage services.
Introducing to you, the incredibly experienced Eduard Elkin has over a decade of knowledge and successes working as a remedial massage therapist, healing people of all ages and activity levels, including working at the Prahran football club.
Eduard specialises in treating chronic musculoskeletal pain and has a very high success rate. Focusing on manipulating key trigger points, he is able to locate and treat the epicentre of the problem providing immediate pain relief for muscles and joints.
Read More
Vata follows the principle of movement and is a by-product of space and air. Similar to air, it is cold, light, dry, rough and mobile. It governs movement, respiration, the heart and nervous system.
Pitta is the by-product of fire and water. Similar to fire it is hot, light, dry, sharp and penetrating. Manages metabolism, our digestive system and emotions.
Kapha is the stabilising force and is a by-product of earth and water. Similar to earth it is heavy, wet, cold, soft and smooth. It manages our bodily immunity, vitality, hydration and strength.
Another element that is key is ‘ama’ or a toxic by-product of undigested physical and energetic matter.
Read MoreKeeping the doshas balanced during and after long airplane flights can be tricky, as we sit in tightly packed and poorly ventilated, cold and dry spaces for extended periods, moving through space. This can aggravate our Vata dosha made up of the air and space elements that are also cold, dry, rough, mobile and erratic; inviting insomnia, dehydration, constipation, tiredness and jet lag into our lives.
The ayurvedic way can be useful in rebalancing this, making travelling easier on both the mind and body. Here are some travel ideas from a recent trip with a long flight to and from Sri Lanka to Melbourne.
Read More
According to the Hatha yoga pradipika, Surya bhedi pranayama or right nostril breathing is one of the most beneficial pranayama (breath work) techniques in activating and energising the body. In Ayurveda too, this pranayama technique is used to dispel a kapha vitiation leading to lethargy, sluggishness, low energy, low motivation and a feeling of dullness.
The focus of this pranayama technique is to activate the surya or ‘sun’ element in your body, via the right nostril and ‘Pingala’ nadi which aligns with the vitality of the sun.
Read More
Developing alternate pathways or themes and mapping these out can help to understand what areas in our lives need attention and what is already working well to guide our energy and resources to where it is needed most.
This is some of narrative therapy in action, supported by the ancient wisdom of the sutras (an area of interest for some clients in particular). This technique can be particularly helpful for those struggling with Anxiety, Attachment issues, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Depression, Eating disorders, Grief, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Read More
Alternate nostril breathing (From Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha by Swami Satyananda Saraswati)
These techniques have a calming effect and relieve anxiety, improves concentration and stimulates ajna chakra. The ratio 1:1 in stage 1 establishes a calming rhythm for the brain and heart, assisting people with cardiovascular and nervous disorders specifically, and stress-related conditions generally. As the count is extended, the breath slows down. The respiration becomes more efficient because the air flow is smoother and less turbulent. This ratio helps people with respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.
Read More
Kapha aggravations can impact the health of the kidneys, lungs, mucus membranes, bladder, fluid content. It can lead to swellings, heaviness and accumulations of mucus in the body. It increased by the salty, sour and sweet tastes e.g. salt, citrus fruits and refined sugars. Kapha is decreased by pungent, bitter and astringent tastes (e.g. turmeric, bitter green, black tea, ginger).
Here is a sample meal plan, herbs and spices to consider in winter months.
Read More
Ayurvedic wisdom places a significant focus on the connection between nature’s seasons and the doshic balance within us. Staying mindful of the time of year and adjusting your routine can help to keep imbalances at bay.
The key is proactively managing the elemental balance that fluctuates in each season. For instance, pitta dosha increases in late spring as the weather warms up and we start to approach summer season, so you’d incorporate more cooling foods and lifestyle practices. Similarly, while we might have been managing vata dosha through early to mid autumn, we’d now slowly shift gears as the weather becomes cooler, wetter and more earthy at the end of Autumn nearing the approach of winter in Australia next month (June).
Read More
On my most recent trip to Sri Lanka I attended one of my mum’s yoga classes and learned this fantastic asana to help activate the ajna chakra, which is located between the eyebrows and is indigo in colour.
It governs insight, intuition and the function of brain, ears, eyes and the hypothalamus, which works with the pituitary gland to secrete and regulate a number of hormones. When it is at its full potential you are more able to stay calm under pressure, think more clearly and decisively, become more self aware and able to tap into your gut voice and intuition. It brings deep calm and steadiness.
Read More
We have all had moments that we’ve been triggered by a situation or person leading to an intense emotional response (sometimes ones we regret). Some are skilled or mindful enough to let that response be what it truly is – an emotion. They experience it, acknowledge it, allow it to dissipate. In the absence of this mindful processing or regulation that emotional response usually escapes, becoming a reaction. It is in this stage or the ‘heat of the moment’ that we can say or do things we may later regret.
Read More
'When ojas is low the person is fearful, weak, worried, has deranged senses, poor complexion, weak mind, is rough and thin’ (Caraka Samhita Sutrasthana 17.73). However, a person with healthy ojas is calm, content & peaceful within, has strong immunity, digestion, potent fertility and endurance. There is a sparkle in the eye and a special ‘glow’ around them.
Read More
When discussing wellness habits and routines, you might often have heard of this suggestion to wake up peacefully, without checking phones, socials, emails, calendars. Quite often a part of the 'programming' in modern life will be to reach for a device, sometimes with eyes still half closed. Without giving our psyche, energy, minds, selves a chance to recalibrate to the waking state from the dream state.
We might carry on then, overtly or subtly impacted by what we see - the ticking over our to-do lists of having to be somewhere, do the next thing; the inward groan or twinge of being reminded of something you'd rather forget... the list is endless!
Read More
Gift experiences and not things this season, with an Ayurvedic Health consultation, uplifting herbal massage or oil treatment, Private Yoga Classes or some Ayurvedic herbal goodies
Give the gift of wellness!
Gift vouchers can be purchased online (here) or contact us (here) to place orders and we will be happy to post these pretty little cards out to you or the recipient.
Messages can be customised, to include recipient name plus a little greeting
Read More
Behind the scenes at our Ghee and Paneer workshop in Melbourne city last evening, against a backdrop of the iconic Flinders Street Station Building 🌟
Read More
Hay fever has been particularly tricky to manage in the last few weeks and we have been helping out with advice and how to’s on using the Ayurvedic / yogic approach to finding relief using a natural approach over pharmaceuticals.
Read More
Snapshots of our Spring Wellness Day 2019!
This day was designed to coincide with the Spring Equinox (today!) and provided a space to experience the cleansing and pausing between seasons preceding a Spring routine
We started with stimulating the thymus for immunity and then practiced invigorating and flowing asana (including lots of khatu pranam from the Yoga in Daily Life System) and pranayama, followed by a yummy, nourishing Spring friendly lunch and bliss balls for snacks, magnesium foot soaks and cleansing golden turmeric teas, healing massages, time for reflection and an uplifting yoga nidra