Ayurveda is a system of medicine and lifestyle originating in India over 5000 years ago. Ayurveda focuses on the qualities of substances and their actions to alleviate illness and increase the quality of our lives. Ayurvedic techniques incorporate bodywork, herbalism, yoga, meditation, diet and detoxification so that we can live in complete balance. Today Ayurveda is recognized by the World Health Organization and practiced worldwide transforming the lives of countless individuals.

Benefits of Shirodhara

According to Ayurveda, Shirodhara deeply relaxes the nervous system, lowers metabolism, integrates brain function and creates brain wave coherence and an alpha state. When the brain is under stress, cerebral circulation is compromised. As oil is poured on the forehead, the nervous system is deeply stilled. The brain waves slow down and become coherent. Once the brain is quieted, more life energy and oxygen and other nutrients flow more freely to the brain. The result: better brain function, mood stability and improved stress handling ability. With each successive Shirodhara treatment, the mind systematically achieves an even deeper state of silence and more healing takes place. Regular treatments are said to increase blood circulation to the brain, improve memory, nourish the hair and scalp, encourage sound sleep and calm body and mind.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” ~Hippocrates

After your constitution, or dosha, is assessed, use the below lists as guidelines to help integrate Ayurvedic nutrition into your lifestyle. Remember to keep it simple. Slowly integrate these food lists into your diet to avoid unnecessary overwhelm, stress and personal judgement/guilt about your nutritional changes. Start by integrating your favorite foods from the appropriate lists. Over time, you may become more curious about trying new and different foods. Consume the majority of foods from the list that corresponds to your primary dosha, fewer foods from your secondary dosha and the least amount from the third remaining dosha list. As much as possible, choose fresh, organic, local foods – not only for your health, but for the health of our environment. A fun way to experience the freshest, seasonal, organic vegetables, eggs (and even meats and cheeses) is to join a CSA. I recommend Three Hearts Farm in Bozeman.

VATA Balancing Foods
Fruit – Apricots, Avocado, Bananas, Berries, Dates, Fresh Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Kiwi, Lemons, Mango, Melon, Oranges, Papaya, Peaches, Pineapple, Plums, Strawberries. Sweet fruits are balancing. No dried fruits, unless they have been soaked.

Vegetables – Artichoke, Asparagus, Beets, Carrots, Cucumber, Green Beans, Leeks, Mustard Greens, Okra, Olives, Onion, Parsnip, Potato, Squash, Watercress, Zucchini. Steamed vegetables are most balancing. Avoid raw vegetables.

Grains – Amaranth, Oats, Rice, Wheat, Wild Rice

Legumes and Nuts – Adzuki beans, Almonds, Black lentils, Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Flax, Hazelnuts, Mung beans, Peanuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Pistachios, Pumpkin, Red lentils, Sesame, Soy cheese, Soy milk, Sunflower, Tofu, Walnuts. Always soak legumes prior to cooking for best digestion.

Meat – Organic is best. Beef (occasionally), Chicken or Turkey (white meat), Duck, Eggs.

Herbs, Spices, Condiments – Brown Rice Syrup, Honey, Maple Syrup, Molasses, Allspice, Almond Extract, Anise, Basil, Bay Leaf, Black Pepper, Caraway, Cardamom, Cayenne, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander, Coconut, Cottage Cheese, Cumin, Dill, Fennel, Garlic, Ghee, Ginger, Mustard, Nutmeg, Onion, Oregano, Parsley, Peppermint, Poppy Seeds, Rosemary, Sage, Spearmint, Spirulina, Tamarind, Tarragon, Thyme, Pickles, Salt, Seaweed, Soy Sauce, Turmeric, Vanilla. Most important: avoid white sugar as this is the single most imbalancing “food” for Vata.

Dairy – Buttermilk, Cow’s Milk, Cheese, Goat’s Milk, Goat Cheese, Yogurt. All in moderation.

PITTA Balancing Foods
Fruit – Apples, Avocado, Berries, Dates, Figs, Grapes, Mango, Melons, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Pomegranate, Prunes, Raisins, Watermelon. Sweet fruits are balancing. Sour fruits are aggravating.

Vegetables – Artichoke, asparagus, bell pepper, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumber, celery, green beans, leafy greens, mushrooms, okra, parsley, parsnip, peas, potatoes, squash, sprouts, zucchini. Sweet and bitter vegetables are balancing.

Grains – Barley, Cooked Oats, Basmati Rice, White Rice, Wheat, Wheat Bran, Wheat Granola are balancing. Amaranth, Buckwheat, Millet, Oat granola, Quinoa, Brown Rice and Rye are aggravating. Legumes and Nuts – All beans except black and red lentils are balancing, such as adzuki beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, soy beans, split peas and tofu. Coconut, psyllium, pumpkin and sunflower are balancing. Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Chia, Filberts, Flax, Macadamia Nuts, Peanuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Pistachios and Sesame are aggravating.

Meat – Organic is best.Chicken white meat, turkey white meat, egg white, freshwater fish, shrimp (in moderation) are balancing. Beef, egg yolk, duck, lamb, pork, venison and seafood other than shrimp are imbalancing.

Herbs, Spices and Condiments – Maple Syrup, Fruit Juice Concentrate, Barley Syrup, Brown Rice Syrup, and other sweeteners except for honey and molasses, Coconut, Coriander, Cumin, Dill Fennel, Ghee, Mint, Orange Peel, Peppermint, Saffron, Seaweed, Spearmint, Sprouts, Turmeric, Wintergreen are balancing. Chili peppers, Garlic, Ginger, Horseradish, Ketchup, Mustard, Lemon, Mayonnaise, Onions, Pickles, Salt, Sesame Seeds, Soy Sauce and Tamari are aggravating.

Dairy – Butter (unsalted), Cottage Cheese, Mild Soft Cheeses, Ghee, Cow’s Milk, Goats Milk are balancing. Salted butter, Buttermilk, Hard Cheese, Feta Cheese, Sour Cream and Yogurt are aggravating.

KAPHA Balancing Foods
Fruit – Apples, Apricots, Berries, Cherries, Cranberries, Dried Figs, Mango, Peaches, Pears, Pomegranate, Prunes, Raisins. Sweet fruits such as bananas and dates are aggravating, as are sour fruits such as lemons, sour oranges and grapefruit.
Vegetables – Asparagus, Beets, Beet Greens, Bell Pepper, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Eggplant, Garlic, Green Beans, Horseradish, Leafy Greens, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Spinach, Sprouts, Turnips, Watercress. Raw, pungent and bitter vegetables are balancing. Sweet, juicy vegetables are aggravating.

Grains – Amaranth, Barley, Buckwheat, Corn, Granola, Millet, Oats, Oat Bran, Quinoa, Basmati Rice, Rice Cakes, Rye and Wheat Bran are balancing. Cooked Oats, Brown or White Rice, and Wheat are imbalancing.

Legumes and Nuts – Adzuki beans, Black-Eyed Peas, Chickpeas, Flaxseeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Lima Beans, Navy Beans, Pinto Beans, Red Lentils, Split Peas, White Beans are balancing. Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Cashew, Coconut, Macadamia Nuts, Peanuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Pistachios, Psyllium, Sesame, Black lentils, Mung Beans, KIdney Beans, Lentils, Soy Beans, Tempeh, Walnuts and Tofu are imbalancing.

Meat – Organic is best. Chicken dark meat, Turkey dark meat, eggs are balancing. Beef, Duck, Freshwater Fish, Lamb, Pork, Seafood, Shrimp, and Venison are aggravating.

Herbs, Spices and Condiments – allspice, Anise, Basil, Black Pepper, Caraway, Cardamom, Cayenne, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander, Cumin, Dill, Fenugreek, Garlic, Ginger, Horseradish, Mint, Mustard Seeds, Nutmeg, Onion, Oregano, Paprika, Parsley, Peppermint, Poppy Seeds, Rosemary, Sage, Spearmint, Star Anise, Tarragon, Thyme, Turmeric, Wintergreen are balancing.

Dairy – Ghee, Goats Milk and Diluted Yogurt (diluted 1:4 yogurt:water) are balancing. Butter, Cheese, Buttermilk, Cow’s Milk, Ice Cream, Sour Cream and Yogurt are aggravating.

Namaste,

I am ecstatic to be back in America after a grueling, humbling and enlightening 10-week journey to India. The highlight of this trip was completion of an Ayurvedic Intensive at a teaching hospital in Kerala, India. I look forward to sharing Ayurveda with you as I integrate this effective system of healing into my current bodywork practices.

Click here to schedule a bodywork session online, or I can be reached at 406.599.6145.

Look forward to connecting soon!
OM
Tamara Faust, Three Hearts Healing

Graduation at Kerala Ayurveda Academy

Do not turn away face to those who request you something. Do not contempt or insult them. Be mostly benevolent even to the enemies who are always intent at hurting you.

To do benevolent things to those who favor, appreciate or praise you is nothing great. You should be great enough to help others even if they intend to ill-treat or are harming you. That will be magnanimity. An eye for an eye is the old rotten rule. Helping others at the hour of need inconsiderate of their attitude to us is the highest form of humility and humanity. Do not ward off those who seek help from you . Help them according to your ability. If you are unable to help, do not misbehave to them by being sarcastic or rude. That will dehumanize you and you will be cheap. Don’t be cheap. Be majestic.