Weekday eating.....

The Elemental Immersion is well under way. Many are already on a vegetarian diet and others are starting that shift. Weather you are participating or not, shifting to a vegetarian diet will facilitate weight loss, lower cholesterol and prevent many diseases including cancer.

A simple way to make the shift to better health is to change the way that you look at your food habits during the work week. Approach eating as your job Monday through Friday. Choose simple foods that are whole including lots of fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. Avoid processed foods and do stay away from the USDA's top picks for the most calorie laden and most consumed food items in the American diet: soda, donuts, hamburgers, pizza, chips, white rice, breads, cheese, beer and French fries.

A great way to get through our busy and hectic weeks which contribute to our choosing "easy" foods is to simply plan a little bit. On Sunday, make a big pot of mixed grain brown rice and a big pot of your favorite beans or lentils. Load both up with spices and chopped veggies. Simply store in individual containers and when it is time to hit the door for work or for the soccer practice, throw them in your car. Instant health!

Save your splurges for the weekend and special events. Remember, Ayurveda and the FDA recommend no more than 2 - 5 servings of meat each WEEK! If you are The Earth, or Kapha, avoid meat entirely. It adds to weight gain. Choose lighter meats such as fish and chicken. Ayurveda views pork to be a red meat...not the "other white meat". Avoid red meat entirely. It's really hard to digest.

Healthy eating this week! Namaste

Coconut-Peppermint Tea

Do you need something wonderful and cozy on this dreary Kapha day?

When the weather turns damp and dreary, it aggravates the Kapha or Earth in our bodies. You may feel lethargic, bored and sleepy. Joints begin to ache and colds turn from dry to wet. Heat up your body with the yummy warm drink and put a little zing into it with the peppermint to get you moving.

• 3 cups coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon dried coconut
• 3 drops essential oil of peppermint

Bring the milk to a boil. In a small skillet, dry roast coconut for a few minutes until it begins to turn slightly brown. Add to the boiling liquid, along with the essential oils. Cover and remove from heat. Let infusion sit for 5 - 15 minutes before serving. Serve strained or unstrained.

(From "Secrets of Healing" by Maya Tiwari)

Snacking

The Ayurvedic rules of snacking are......."NO SNACKING"!

Sorry, but seriously, when was the last time you were really really hungry?

When you think of hunger, think of a scale from 1 to 10. 1 is starving to death and 10 is Thanksgiving dinner. You should eat a meal when you are around a 2 or 3. You should stop eating when you are around a 7 to leave room to digest. A meal is the size of your two fists placed side by side. That is all that your stomach can comfortably hold. Yes, you can shove more food in your stomach than that, but it slows digestion.

When you think of your digestive system, think of a bonfire. We call it "Agni". You want that bonfire to be burning as hot and intense as possible. Overeating and eating between meals causes that fire to diminish. A weak fire cannot break down and absorb the nutrients in your food. A weak fire cannot facilitate elimination of waste.

So, get hungry. Let your belly start to rumble and work and then feed it. Leave room to digest and take a nice little walk after you eat.

Everyone is getting a cold......

The viruses that create colds are always present. Sometimes, if your elements are out of balance or if the season is changing, your body becomes weakened and you can no longer destroy the viruses effectively. The result is the common cold. Prevention is best recipe by following the diet and routine for your element.

Once cold symptoms appear, follow the routine below.

As soon as you feel a cold coming on, you should begin to rest and follow the Wind or Vata Plan. Eat warm nourishing foods. Stick to a schedule for eating and sleeping. Taking the time to rest at the first signs of a cold instead of waiting until you are bedridden will actually save you time in the end. Keep yourself warm and keep your face covered with a scarf if you are going outside. Wearing a shawl or scarf indoors is also a good idea. Your diet should be simple, easy to digest and served warm. Lemon and Ginger are your best friends especially in hot water.

Diet

Day 1		Fast. Fasting can include hot herbal teas and heated broth. Teas Fresh ginger and honey Fresh lemon and honey Cinnamon tea with ½ tsp. of powdered turmeric added
Day 2 - 7		Eat a bland diet of easily digestible foods. Avoid Salt Avoid Raw Foods

Routine

• Rest
• Dress warmly
• Open the windows and let fresh air in, unless it is very cold outside
• Go for a slow walk outside
• Soak your feet in hot water while covered with a blanket before bedtime
• Follow your elemental routine

Herbal Therapy

Trikatu		combo of black pepper and dry ginger with pippali (three spices)
Ginger		Add fresh ginger to hot water

Yoga Pose

• Sirsasana
• Balasana or Child's Pose
• Sarvangasana or shoulderstand
• Uttanasana or hand to foot pose
• Paschimottanasana or seated forward fold
• Kurmasana or tortoise pose
• Ujjayi Pranayama with inhalation retention
• Legs up the Wall Pose or Vipariti Karani

Go to www.elementalom.com to find out what element you resonate with.

Forgiveness

Today I received the sweetest gift and I wanted to share it with everyone.....

It was an envelope. Taped to the top of the envelope was a tiny box of Tide laundry detergent. Inside the note read:

This is forgiveness laundry detergent.
It never runs out.
You can use it on yourself or on someone else.
You can use it however and whenever you like or need.
Remember it by name "Forgiveness" and know that there is an unlimited supply.
Just add water.
You can pass it along to someone else.
When needed....wash it away.

This weekend, as I do laundry, I'm going to think of things in my life that need washed away.

Thanks MM for the great reminder.

....and in every situation, always forgive yourself first.

Namaste

Beans, beans, the magical fruit......

In the studio, we are into our detox progam, the Elemental Immersion, week 2. This week we switch to 2 vegetarian meals per day and that means we will be eating more beans than our Western digestive system is used to. You may find that the beans create a bit of gas in your system. This is normal and I find that as your body adjusts to the additional fiber, this problem settles down. The Wind body type will suffer the most gas and should favor lentils or dahl.

To eliminate gas, always soak and rinse your beans. As the beans cook, skim off the froth that comes to the top. Cooking your beans more thoroughly enhances the digestive process and can help prevent gas. Adding ginger, cinnamon, fennel, peppermint and turmeric to your bean dishes can also prevent gas.

Throughout your day, sip hot water with ginger. In Ayurveda, hot water is believed to stimulate digestion. It warms the Wind or Vata in your digestive system. Vata in your digestive system is responsible for the movement of waste out of your body. If you are cold and dry which irritates Vata, then you may not eliminate effectively and you may develop constipation. From a clinical western perspective, there is no evidence that hot water does anything to your digestive system. I don't think anyone has even studied it. This method has been used in India, Japan and China for centuries.

Dr. Chopra, in his book "Perfect Digestion" explains that hot water melts away "ama" or toxic buildup. "Ama is sticky and greasy by nature. Hot water can dissolve ama from your system just as it dissolves grease from dirty dishes, and it can accomplish this gradually and comfortably."

From personal experience and anecdotal evidence, the hot water does work. When I or my children have a bad stomach, we drink hot water and it will stimulate elimination and make your belly feel better. A past participant in the program suffered from Irritable Bowel Syndrome and she insisted that the hot water with ginger was her cure for it. Hot water is very filling and can curb cravings for snacks. The ginger placed in hot water releases its juices and enzymes more easily than if it were in cold water.

So drink your hot water, eat your beans and know that everybody farts......

Yummy

Tonight our detox meets for the 2nd time in the series, so I whipped together some yummy bliss balls for them to try. Week 2 is when you go deep into the "elimination of less favorable habits" process and your body will begin to notice that you are taking its sugar away. The beauty of the bliss ball is that when you are on the detox program, you can eat as many as you like. They get you over that craving for sugar and are totally good for you.

When I cook, I rarely follow a recipe and nothing ever comes out the same way twice. There is no measuring with bliss balls. You just throw it all together in the food processor. Today I used the following:

• Jumbo multi-colored raisins
• Mission figs (dried)
• Cranberries (dried)
• Almonds
• Peanuts
• Honey (which it really didn't even need)
• Coconut
• and my special ingredient today.......Dates (they have awesome dates at Costco right now)

Basically, throw the nuts (maybe 2 cups) in the processor and process. Add to it the raisins, figs, cranberries, almonds and dates. The dates do have seeds so de-seed them. It will get gooey and stick together. You can add the honey if you want.

Roll into little balls and then roll in Coconut.

Enjoy!

Go to the website, www.elementalom.com, for another version that has better measuring instructions.

Get that Kapha moving....

Each person is comprised of all the great elements; space, air, fire, water and earth in some unique proportion. If you have more earth and water than other elements, you are a Kapha. This doesn't mean that you don't have space, air and fire in you. It just means that you have a larger proportion of earth and water. If you have put on an extra few or more pounds, then you are probably suffering from an imbalance in the Earth. Additionally, if you feel sluggish, are having difficulty waking, feel a sense of boredom or loneliness or are simply feeling dull, then the Earth may be out of balance as well.

If you suffer for an extended period of time from an Earth imbalance you may develop obesity, heart disease and even depression. The good news is that you simply need to get the Earth element in your body and mind to begin to shift. When you think of the Earth element, think of a large boulder sitting firmly in the ground. It is heavy, dense and doesn't want to move. You can push and push and it wants to stay firmly in place. Once you push hard enough though, the boulder begins to move. It moves slowly at first and then builds up a lot of energy and it will just go and go because it has a lot of momentum.

The Earth in your body and mind works the same way. The first step in shifting this imbalance is to simply make up your mind to do it. Once the Earth commits to something, it will follow through. The next step is to simply force, and I mean force, yourself to begin. Turn the TV off, go for a walk and try lots and lots of new things. Listen to vibrant and uplifting music. Go shopping and surround your body and home with vivid reds, oranges and yellows. Choose spicy aromas like peppermint, orange and rosemary to scent your home. Cook all of your food and really spice it up. The Earth needs heat and spice to move.

Many people have a workout routine that they enjoy and so they have stuck to it for an extended period of time. They suffer because, although they are working out, they are not receiving benefits. This is an amazing example of how the Earth can settle on your body even when you are working out. Your body adjusts to anything that doesn't change and it gets dull. You need to change up your routine. If you only do yoga, try Zumba, bellydancing, hiking, biking or swimming. If you only run and lift weights, add yoga. Your body will love the diversity and shift.

The Kapha person must choose food wisely. They make the best vegetarians of all the doshas. Earth in your body IS your muscle, fat and bones. When you eat meat, you are eating earth. Adding Earth to Earth creates more imbalance. When choosing food, always go for the item that is less heavy and dense. Remember, heavy and dense means it has a lot of earth in it already and again, you are adding earth to earth. For example, a banana is much heavier and dense than an apple. An apple would be a better choice. Choose whole grains, leafy greens, fruits and tons of spice. Only drink when you are thirsty. The Earth already has a lot of water in it. Avoid salt, but spice up your food. Always cook your food and eat it warm. The Earth element is cold, so you must add heat to shift it. Choose baking, broiling and grilling. These are dry cooking methods.

For more information, visit our website at www.elementalom.com. The Elemental Immersion is the perfect way to begin your shift to balance. Namaste

Why does Yoga detoxify you?

Yoga is a beautiful system of postures that lengthen and strengthen every major muscle group. More importantly, yoga acts to detoxify you through twisting , bending and stretching your internal organs. Its the equivalent of receiving a massage from the inside out.

Concentration on breath brings more oxygen to your organs to nourish and cleanse them. Practicing a simple Durga breath can quadruple your lung capacity. Durga translated from the sanskrit means "invincible". To practice, simply imagine that you have a balloon in your belly. Inhale deeply into that balloon and fill it all the way up pushing out your belly. Pull the air up into your lungs and let it out through your shoulders. Use this breath when energy is low, if you have a headache or if you wake from sleep in the middle of the night.

The combination of Yoga and Breath facilitates a calm, connected and peaceful mind. Through yoga and meditation, we connect to our higher selves and find our life's purpose or dharma. When you are living in your dharma, you are happy and the world seems easy and perfect. You feel blessed.

Today, yoga is being used as a therapy to treat arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, weight gain, depression, asthma, chronic pain, inflammation, fibromyalgia, menopause symptoms and stress to name a few. We use as part of our Elemental Immersion to facilitate the detoxification of your body and mind and to connect to spirit.

Eating for your Element

Many people get very confused when they begin the process of eating for their element. There are tons of food lists out there an it can be quite confusing. The Fire or Pitta is supposed to avoid tomatoes, but you LOVE tomatoes and they never affect you in any negative way. The Wind is supposed to avoid crackers and popcorn, but again, they don't affect you. Or do they? Many Fires suffer heartburn and indigestion due to the sour taste of tomatoes. Many Winds suffer constipation due to the drying nature of crackers and popcorn. Only you know your body, so listen to it.

A simple way to approach food is to include all the colors and tastes of food in each meal. The colors are those of the rainbow; red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. The tastes are sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter and astringent. Note that a meal is the size of your two fists. Meals should be eaten three times a day around the same time each day. Meals should be made of whole and fresh foods. Meat is to be taken in moderation...3 - 5 servings a week which compares to our American food pyramid. The Earth type makes the best vegetarian.

In general, the tastes can be categorized as follows:

• Sweet: grains, dairy, breads, pasta, starchy veggies, fruits, nuts, oils, sugar, and animal products.
• Sour: Citrus fruits, sour fruits, tomatoes, yogurt, cheese, pickles, vinegar and alcohol
• Salty: Salt, seafood, sauces, meat
• Spicy: peppers, ginger, mustard, cloves, thyme, basil,
• Bitter: leafy greens and yellow veggies
• Astringent: beans, legumes, lentils, cranberries, tea, dark greens like spinach.

When you think of yourself and your element, think of the tastes that are already present in your body:

• The Wind or Vata has in their body a lot of Spicy, Astringent and Bitter taste. The Wind balances by favoring tastes that are sweet, sour and salty.
• If you are The Fire or are suffering from a Fire imbalance, then you already have a lot of salty, spicy and sour present in your body. You balance by favoring tastes that are sweet, bitter and astringent.
• If you are The Earth element than you already are sweet, salty and sour. You should avoid foods that increase this. Favor instead foods that are bitter, spicy and astringent.

For all elements, each taste is on your plate. It is simply a matter of dishing out the right portions. The Wind can eat a lot of whole grain pasta which is sweet. The Fire can eat a lot of whole grain pasta, but they will go light on the tomato sauce because it is sour. The Earth will have a small serving of pasta and their pasta sauce should be loaded with fresh veggies and tons of spice.

The other thing to consider is the quality of your Element. The Wind is cold, light and dry. If you are the wind, avoid food that is cold, light or dry. That means your food should be cooked and served warm. Fluffy snacks like popcorn and chips should be avoided as well. Saute your food. Avoid grilling and broiling.

The Fire is hot, light and intense. Spicy food is a big no no. Eat your food room temperature or cold. Fires do well with minted waters. Avoid oily and fried foods.

The Earth is cold, heavy and solid. All food should be served at room temperature or warm. Grill, bake and broil your food. Always choose fruits and veggies that feel lighter. For example, a banana feels heavy and is very solid. That would not be the best choice. Berries are light and perfect!

For more information, explore our website and explore your senses!

My Favorite Herb

In India, the Neem Tree is thought to be blessed with miraculous healing properties due to a little accident involving Indra, King of the Celestials. As he was traveling back to heaven with a pot of Ambrosia, he hit a little bump and spilled the Ambrosia on the Neem Tree. It was blessed with healing properties for all of eternity. It's first use as a medical treatment goes back 4,500 years. The Neem Tree is so sacred, in fact, that the Indian government has legislation to declare Neem a national treasure and put a ban on exporting the seeds.

Neem is known to be beneficial to the following conditions:

• Psoriasis
• Acne
• Eczema
• Itching
• Dandruff
• Warts
• Colds and Flu
• Diabetes (can reduce insulin requirements by 30 - 50% for nonketotic, insulin fast and insulin sensitive diabetes) Note that is was approved for this use by the Indian Government in less than 24 hours after researchers placed their findings.
• Cancer (contains polysaccharides and limonoids)
• Heart Disease (delays blood coagulation, reduces elevated heart rates and HBP
• Herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and vaginal infections
• Gum Disease and tooth decay
• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Ulcers
• Acts as a Birth Control in men and women and is commonly used in India as such
• Hepatitis
• Fungi including athlete's foot and Candida
• Used as an Insect repellent and Insecticide
• and MUCH more
  

There are no known side effects of Neem. It is thought that in large doses it could be toxic. The entire tree is used including the roots, bark, gum, leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds and oil. Neem has the following healing properties:

• Antiseptic
• Anti-bacteria (antiseptic)
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-fungal
• Anti-viral (kills viruses)
• Contraceptive
• Anti-arrhythmic
• Analgesic (pain relief)
• Antigen (creates immune response)
• Anthelminthic (kills parasites)

Neem has been used for thousands of years. There are hundreds of documented studies on Neem dating back to the 1950s with amazing findings from current studies. It is inexpensive. It facilitates healing on many levels. It is an integral part of the Elemental Immersion as it functions as a liver tonic. In the studio, we sell soaps, shampoos, supplements, mud masks, oils and toothpaste. Go to www.elementalom.com to learn more about Neem...our favorite little tree.

Namaste,

Pam

Your Beautiful Skin

Ayurveda teaches that all disease stems from poor digestion. Most people do not associate the skin as a digestive organ, but your skin is the largest organ used for elimination. It is responsible for eliminating up to one pound of toxins each day. If you are suffering from any of the following, your skin may be stressed and this indicates that you need to reassess your habits, detoxify your digestive system and make better choices going into your future.

• Acne, rashes, eczema, rosacea
• Extremely oily or dry skin
• Cellulite
• Wrinkles
• Premature Aging
• Skin Cancer

The Elemental Immersion is a 28 day detox program that facilitates the resetting of the digestive system. It uses your own digestive system to flush toxins in a gentle and nourishing manner. The end result is not only weight loss, but clear and glowing skin. To jump start skin health, consider the following:

• Avoid the sun. 15 minutes of sun exposure a day is good for you. More is not.
• Drink when you are thirsty. Depending on your dosha, you may drink up to 10 glasses of water a day. Vatas need the most. Kaphas need the least.
• Avoid saturated fat (animal fat) and all trans fats
• Eat tons of fruits and veggies
• Avoid refined sugars and "white" foods in general
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, fried food and sodas
• Take a Neem and Flaxseed Oil Supplement daily

Running the Elemental Immersion has taught me that Caffeine and Alcohol are the habits that are the most challenging to break. Break these over a period of time. Don't quit cold turkey or you will suffer from withdrawal. There are lots of breathing techniques, yoga poses and herbs that can ease suffering through this process. Go to www.elementalom.com to learn more.

Namaste, Pam