A Season of Abundance • October 2007

Hi Everyone,

Fall is the season when we give thanks for the abundance of our harvest, and also when things get cold, dry, rough, light and variable and people with an abundance of Vata constitution (ether and air), can have constipation, gas, bloating, insomnia, anxiety, and other conditions of dryness and of the nervous system, including creaky, cracking joints, spaciness and nervousness.

The best remedy is to adjust lifestyle and diet to be warm, moist, soothing, and include slower movement, whole body massage with oil (Abhyanga) and also oil in the nose to build immunity and prevent colds and infections (Nasya/Sans). Yoga practice should focus on grounding aspects of poses, incorporating belly down positions, slow movement from one pose to the next, coordinated with steady even breathing. Focus on things that are solid, steady and relaxed, and choose nurturing environments and activities.

You can make an appointment for you personal Ayurvedic Consultation which addresses overall health and well being, as well as alleviating long standing issues and imbalances. Using pulse diagnosis and Ayurvedic analysis, your Ayurvedic constitution will be determined and appropriate recommendations such as daily routines, lifestyle adaptations (including diet, herbs, and exercise [yoga]) will be made. For more information, visit www.chayayoga.com, email me or call for an appointment—413-637-8007.

Special considerations are made for program participants.

Recipe for Fall: Yellow Mung Dahl Soup

1 cup yellow mung dahl
6 cups water
2 cups chopped vegetables
4 tablespoons safflower or sunflower oil
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 pinch asefoitida (hing)
1 small handful cilantro leaves, chopped
5 curry leaves
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon masala powder
1/2 teaspoon salt



• Wash the mung dahl twice and soak it if you have time for better digestibility.
• Put the mung dal and 3 cups of the water into a soup pot and bring to a boil.
• Cook on medium heat for 25 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Add the last 3 cups of the water and vegetables (any veggies are fine and root veggies and sweet potato are nice) and simmer for another 20 minutes, covered.
• Beat with an egg beater or stir until smooth.
• Heat the oil in a small saucepan until medium hot and add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds and hing. Stir until the seeds pop.
• Turn down the heat and add the curry leaves, cilantro, turmeric and masala powder. Stir and add to the soup.
• Add salt.
• Boil for 2 more minutes and serve.

Yellow mung dahl is sweet and cooling and mainly calms vata and pitta, though it is good for all doshas. It is very easy to digest and promotes strength.

The seasonings help to balance the drying, light and astringent qualities of the soup that could aggravate vata.

This is great served with basmati rice.

Recent Program News:

I just finished leading a week long retreat at Kripalu Center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts called Holistic Lifestyle and Adaptive Yoga for People with MS, Auto-Immune and Neuromuscular Disorders.

There were 16 participants and I had 2 overly-qualified, gifted and compassionate assistants. Our time and experience together were a co-creation of magnificence!

I am impressed and inspired by the courage, focus and participation of the group, and am grateful and honored to have witnessed their transformation, unfolding, and expression of all of these shining souls.

We did Adaptive Yoga each morning, followed by lecture, discussion and experiences of Yoga, Ayurveda, Philosophy, Nutrition, Digestion, Conscious Eating, Deep Relaxation and Yoga Nidra. I also encouraged the participants to receive Abhyanga Massage and or Shirodhara treatment.

The profound conjoining of Body, Mind and Spirit were at the essence of our time together and we discovered how these practices, when combined create the vehicle for transformation and healing on every level of our being. We did body and mind mapping and found our energy transformed through all of these practices and spent a small portion of time writing. I’d like to share with you some of their creations (see below) and you can visit my website for more.

Tranquility
I treasure the quiet aloneness when I am yearning to be floating alone on a lovely river.
Then I have the intention to practice never using food as anything but what it is meant to be….nourishment, pleasure and enjoyment.
- Laura DeGoursey, Medical Technologist, North Stonington, CT

Smile
Start a new era-
Modify life for the sake of simplicity, eliminating illustions.
Be in one's element–whether it is in the mountains, or an island, or in another land.
- Anonymous

Sound
So simple, to listen to the undulations of the ocean; to downy sore birds at home with numinous waves.
And the watching, the listening, the toes in water, in sand, the good salt in the air, all an overture, perhaps leading to solidifying an understanding one that is not negligible. And I tell myself—
Say yes to downsizing, so you can find the opal.
- Ruth A. Meyers, Music Therapist, Lancaster, PA

•

Program Testimonial

I was most touched by the message of integration of the physical and the soul. Chaya was so gentle at getting the lesson taught and encouragement to go there.

- Liz Kopel, Physician, Wellesley, MA


For more examples of participant writing or to read what they had to say about the program, click here.

 

Your Success is My Greatest Reward…

My mission at A Life of Balance is to empower people through the practice of Yoga and Ayurveda, so they can find their inner balance and ultimate joy. My vision of health and journey to wellness takes into consideration the total lifestyle and constitution of the whole person to support health and welllness by learning to live again in the most natural way possible, according to nature, to access our hightest intuition and truth, unlocking the human healing potential. Thank you for your committment to a life of balance. Your results are my deepest joy. I am grateful for the opportunity to witness your continued success, unfolding and seeing you live again with ultimate joy and ease of well being.

Lenox, MA 01240 I 413.329.2182 I Email

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