“Birth, growth, decay and death.” Babaji offered us this phrase on his chalkboard so many times over the years. When we’d ask about human life, when we’d ask about death, when we’d ask about liberation – it appeared often in answering so many questions. Human incarnation, he explained, begins with taking birth in a physical […]
Posted on January 29th, 2017 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
You may have heard about Oil Pulling; it’s become quite the new fashion in some circles! It’s something of an unusual practice, especially the first time you do it, but after trying it once, I was hooked! It gives the mouth not a feeling of freshness, but also has a soothing effect on the whole […]
Posted on December 29th, 2016 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
Ghee is the purified form of butter, often called “clarified butter.” In Sanskrit, it is referred to as ghrta. Ghee is one of the most ancient and sattvic foods known. According to Charaka (one of the codifiers of the Ayurvedic system of natural medicine), ghee plays a vital role in health maintenance; it “promotes memory, […]
Posted on October 26th, 2016 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
During the summer season the qualities of ‘pitta dosha,’ which are hot, light and dry, are clearly obvious in the weather. The sun shines more often; the hours of daylight are longer; the earth dries out more quickly. No matter which dosha is predominant in our nature, we all notice the increase of these pitta […]
Posted on July 28th, 2016 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
The very first question that I was ever brave enough to ask Babaji was, “Babaji, if you had only two words to say to the people of the world, what would they be?” And without hesitation, he wrote “Attain Peace.” Sitting on the dock at the Oyama retreat, overlooking beautiful Lake Osoyoos, Babaji was being […]
Posted on June 28th, 2016 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
It’s been said that if all you do is take triphala, eventually the body will return to a state of balance. And of course, balance is at the heart of Ayurveda – maintaining a balance of the doshas (bio-energies) and the dhatus (the bodily tissues). Triphala is the classic blend of three (tri) fruits (phala). […]
Posted on August 30th, 2015 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
Maintaining an Even Keel: Understanding our Mental Temperament If you’ve ever tried to sail a boat, fly a kite, or surf the ocean waves, you have a sense of what it means to keep ‘an even keel.’ An ability to focus, to hold the mind steady in the moment, while also perceiving the ever-changing conditions, […]
Posted on July 28th, 2015 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
The summer months are the perfect time to experiment with abhyanga – the Ayurvedic art of oil massage. As we mentioned in last month’s column, abhyanga (self massage with warm oil) nourishes the skin, as well as soothes the nervous system, stimulates the circulation of blood and lymph, and enlivens the immune system. This nurturing […]
Posted on June 28th, 2015 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
The warm summer months are coming soon, if not already here. The afternoon heat invites us to remove some clothing and allow our skin access to the healing rays of the sun. Water sports bring us into contact with wind, water and waves. The long days invite us to play in the garden well into […]
Posted on May 30th, 2015 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
Ayurveda, Yoga and You: The Hot Belly Diet by Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar Dr. Suhas (as he is called by his students and colleagues) has sub-titled his new book “A 30-day Ayurvedic Plan to Reset your Metabolism, Lose Weight, and Restore your Body’s Natural Balance to Heal Itself.” And the magical diet plan he describes presents […]
Posted on April 26th, 2015 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
Making healthy food choices often seems like a daunting task. So many things to choose from, and so many filled with sugar and fat! And, everyone seems to have a different philosophy of what and how to eat, so that our individual food choices seem to require a doctorate in food science! And then, we […]
Posted on January 28th, 2015 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
We’ve all heard that stress has a wearing effect on the nerves, the emotions, and even on the strength of our immune response. Relationship challenges, job insecurity, climate change, or simply waiting in line at the airport can trigger a stress response, sending debilitating hormones racing through our system. From a medical perspective, stress can […]
Posted on December 30th, 2014 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
Particularly in the northern latitudes where daylight can be as little as 6-8 hours during the winter months, the darkening days can often pose a challenge to our peace of mind. Then when the sky is cloudy, the wind whips up, and the rains pour down, our mind can so easily follow . . . […]
Posted on October 29th, 2014 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
Ayurveda has always stressed the importance of serving freshly cooked meals, using fresh ingredients, and cooking with a sense that we are feeding the divine within ourselves. To have the means and the skills to feed ourselves is such a blessing! And to be blessed with the abundance of a home garden from which to […]
Posted on September 29th, 2014 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.
September brings us the change of season – summer turning to autumn. Evenings become chillier; winds rustle the drying leaves and bring them floating to earth. A bounteous harvest fills the kitchen with rich, earthy smells of fresh fruits and veggies. The air element predominates during this time of year. Light, dry and cool qualities […]
Posted on September 3rd, 2014 by Salt Spring Centre of Yoga.