Yesterday I had a Zoom call with students in my Living Ayurveda course (check it out at www.yogaspiritonline.com). We were meeting at the transition of the seasons to talk about seasonal foods and changes in our activities that will help us feel healthy, vital and strong all year long. This month we transition into Summer, the season of fire known as Pitta.

Whether you follow an ayurvedic lifestyle or not, this information will lessen the effect of pitta’s inflammation on your body and mind. Considering how many of our physical and mental health issues are a result of inflammation, this is good information indeed.

Favor foods that are sweet, bitter and astringent. Ayurveda recognizes six tastes and these are the three that will help cool the body and mind. Enjoy apples, cranberries, dates, figs, grapes, limes, mango, melons, pears, persimmons, pineapple, plums, pomegranate, prunes, alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, cucumber, green beans, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, peas, potatoes, squash, turnips, zucchini, basmati rice, oats, wheat, corn, granola, beans, coconut, sunflower seeds, butter, coconut oil, ghee, corn oil, sunflower oil, flax seed, olive oil, cream cheese, milk, and cottage cheese. Sweeten with fruit juice concentrate, maple syrup, date sugar or coconut sugar.

Avoid foods that are sour, salty and pungent (spicy hot). These are the foods that increase heat in the body and contribute to inflammation: chilies, garlic, onions, pickles, radishes, lentils, nuts that are roasted and salted, sour cream, salty cheese, honey, molasses, all condiments, all animal products.

My two favorite summer anti-inflammatories are lime and fresh ginger. In general citrus fruits are to be avoided in pitta season because citrus is heating. Lime, however, is unique because it is a cooling fruit. Every morning I squeeze the juice of ¼ lime into a cup of warm water and sip it as the first fluid to travel through the digestive tract. Lime also tastes great added to a cup of water or herbal tea anytime during the day.

Fresh ginger is also unique because it is tri-doshic, meaning that it supports and does not aggravate any of the three doshas. This isn’t the case, however, for dried ginger which has a heating quality and will definitely aggravate pitta. Add fresh ginger to your vegetable stir-fries and steep it in hot water for a delicious tea. Ginger is an anti-inflammatory superfood!

Ice cream. Ayurveda tells us to always avoid icy drinks because it puts out our digestive fire. This is especially important to follow in the summer, the season when our digestive fire is at its weakest. Summer, however, is the only season when Ayurveda encourages us to enjoy a sensible portion of ice cream. Get me a spoon!

I just finished an amazing weekend of advanced yoga teacher training in Restorative Yoga. What a joy to teach yoga teachers how to teach Restorative Yoga to their students!

Did you feel the world tip a little more toward happiness and ease?

It got me thinking about what we mean by “self-care” these days. To be sure, binge watching a streaming service while eating take out and drinking alcohol is NOT self-care; it’s more likely self-harming. Taking a bubble bath while reading a book might be a better route to self-care, but the benefits only last as long as you are in the tub.

Here is self-care that endures:

Pick out veggies at the local farmers’ market and cook a meal for yourself and/or others. Infuse the food with positive energy by thinking about beauty and love while you cook. The food will not only taste better, it will also be more nutritious.

Drink clean water and herbal teas. Your body is 75% water and dehydration is one of the main causes of physical and mental distress. Drink about ½ of your body weight in ounces. (150 lbs person should drink 75 oz)

Spend time in Nature by walking your neighborhood, working in your garden, lounging beside or inside a pool or lake, hike in a forest or on a mountain. According to ayurveda, Nature is the best way to heal the body and mind.

Set up an appointment for massage, acupuncture or a float. Attend yoga class. Join a meditation group. The professionals who offer these services are well-trained to teach you about self-care. Don’t wait until you are in pain to seek them out.

Practice restorative yoga. Most everything listed above has a monetary cost. Restorative yoga is free. Place a soft blanket on the floor. Choose a pillow for your head. Roll a blanket to put under your knees. Cover with a blanket and put an eye covering or scarf over your eyes. Hang a “do not disturb” sign and close the door. Set your phone timer for 20 minutes. Judith Lasater says “Savasana is a gift you give to yourself and to the world.”

Now that’s what I call self-care.

In the heaviness and dreaminess of the full moon lunar eclipse, I have been considering this quote:

“We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.”

These words come from Swami Vivekananda, the Hindu wandering monk who introduced Yoga to the West. Can you imagine how these words landed at the very end of the 19th century?

In the Vedic tradition (Buddhism too), there is a progression that is often discussed—thoughts, words, actions. They are all related, of course, because we can see how what we and others do is always rooted in the things they have been thinking and saying. Makes sense, right?

This is why these ancient traditions are so interested in guiding and training the mind. What we think matters big time; thought is the place where we devise our hopes and dreams, discern the best course of action, and plan our next steps. There can be no action without thought. Ha ha – when you say you “acted without thinking” you are deluding yourself. Action is always a result of thought, conscious or unconscious.

Therefore, Swami V says, “take care about what you think.” What are you thinking about? What are you going over in your mind? Those thoughts—whether joyful or sad, hopeful or fearful—are setting the course for your life. Shift your thoughts and you shift the whole world.

Earth is one of the five elements in the Vedic tradition—earth, water, fire, air and space. Each element has its own unique qualities and has its own special role to play in our life. Could you imagine having to live without just one of the elements in your life?!

Our body is also made up of the five elements, but earth element is so special because it centers us in the physical aspect of being alive. In our bodies we experience pleasure and pain, the warmth of the sun and the cold of snow and wind, we taste delicious food, smell flowers of all kinds and colors, and touch the skin or fur of our loved one.

Earth is also our planet, our home while we live in these bodies. As we celebrate Earth Day this week I was re-reading Thich Nhat Hanh’s “love letter to the Earth” and am delighted to share some of it with you today:

“Dear Mother Earth,
You are the mother of all beings. I call you by the human name Mother and yet I know your mothering nature is more vast and ancient than humankind. We are just one young species of your many children. All the millions of other species who live—or have lived—on Earth are also your children. You aren’t a person, but I know you are not less than a person either. You are a living breathing being in the form of a planet. Each species has its own language, yet as our Mother you can understand us all. That is why you can hear me today as I open my heart to you and offer you my prayer.”

Join me today in writing your own “love letter to the Earth” as a reminder that Earth is our home, earth is an element which makes up our body, and Mother Earth is here for all of us. May we always be here for her.

For 16 continuous days I practiced yoga nidra meditation to honor the start of the spring season. Each day highlighted a different Hindu Devi, each an expression of the Divine Feminine, each associated with a different phase of the Moon. What I learned is that the Divine Feminine lives within each of us and defines our True Self.
 
Here are just three of the Devis who spoke most eloquently to me:
Vahnivasini, the Devi of Fire, who helped me get in touch with my passion for learning and teaching, loving and understanding others and to be the one to increase positive vibrations wherever I go.
 
Tvarita who represents the waxing Moon when she is half light and half dark. She helps me to balance what I do know with what I do not know. No need to rush to judgment because if we wait, more light will arrive and we will see and know more.
 
Nilapataka, She Who Falls into the Blue. Her story is fascinating! She falls into the blue poison and transforms it into nectar. When I am aware of the “poisons” in my life I can consider how they can be turned into “nectars” that will encourage and enlighten me.
 
Just like you and me and all people everywhere, the Devis each have their own unique qualities. Something my teacher said really caught my attention: The qualities of the Devis are inside of us. Then she paused and said something even more powerful—the Devis are inside of us. She said this is not something that all of us are yet ready to see, but when we do our lives would be changed forever.
 
When you look at your True Self, what do you see?

Early Spring means early Spring colds and allergies. Here’s what you need to do now to stay well!

Why is everyone having such a tough time? Ayurveda teaches that Spring is the season of melting—just as snow melts in the mountains to fill the rivers, fat melts in the human body to help us shed the winter weight and “wake up” from the winter slumber. The melting occurs in two ways—the shedding of winter weight and the loosening of mucus in the body. And if our digestive system is not working at its optimal, that mucus will turn into colds and allergies.

Use a neti pot: This little genie’s bottle really does work some magic on congestion. Fill the pot with warm distilled water and add some nasal salt. Lean over the sink and pour the salt water in one nostril and out the other. If you lift your head too much and the water goes into your throat, simply spit it in the sink. Gently blow the nose and you’ll have easy breathing all day.

Exercise: This is the best time of year to break a sweat. Sweating assists the body’s melting of the fat layer we put on in the winter. And it also helps counteract the coolness of Spring days when it’s easy to get a chill and feel out of sorts. Try a brisk walk by the pond to see the birds pairing up for mating season or do some vigorous Sun Salutations.

Eat seasonal foods: Mother Nature provides us with greens, dandelions and other early Spring plants to help detox the liver and assist this melting process. Also eat beets, ginger, spinach, berries, garbanzo beans and lentils. Use lots of spices and herbs in your food. Avoid dairy and sugar in the Spring.

If you’d like to learn more about how to make these recommendations more specific to your constitution and lifestyle, consider doing an Ayurvedic consultation with Janet this Spring.

Sneezes and sniffles! Our poor noses are suffering this season due to an early Spring (three weeks early according to The Weather Channel). Ayurveda encourages us to take good care of our noses, not just in the Spring but all year around. Here’s why:

The nose is the organ for our sense of smell. Ayurveda places great emphasis on the five senses because each one is connected to one of the five elements. The sense of smell is connected to the earth element and, wouldn’t you know it, Spring is the season of earth awakening. Believe it or not, one of the ways to take care of our nose in Spring is to shed the heaviness we’ve been holding onto since Winter. To do this, eat more bitter, astringent and pungent foods like asparagus, broccoli, radishes, arugula, cabbage, hot sauce, etc. Avoid eating foods that will add water or weight, like salty and sweet foods and dairy.

The nose also provides a direct link to our brain. The respiratory system and nervous system are actually separate, but there is a way to cross over that barrier. Ayurveda uses a technique called nasya, which means “nose.” A medicated oil is sniffed into the nose. As it coats the inside of the nostrils, it makes contact with the olfactory nerve, which carries the medication (herbs) directly into the brain. Even without the medication, nasya is very effective in enhancing the sense of smell and moisturizing nostrils that are irritated from all that sneezing.

To do nasya, wash your hands well. Place one drop of organic sesame oil on each pinky finger and coat the inside of the nostrils. Sniff vigorously and rub the sides the nose with your other fingers. The best time to do nasya is in the morning, either when you first get up or after your shower.

We had a wonderful workshop this past weekend on using yoga therapy to relieve neck pain. Lots of happy necks in the room! But it got me considering how it’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking things will be better when [fill in the blank]. You know what I mean, don’t you?

Things will be better when
-my neck stops hurting
-I finish my degree
-my kids are grown
-spring arrives
-I get the promotion
-[insert your dream here]

I got to thinking how Yoga has a completely different way of responding to Life. Yoga asks

What if everything is fine as it is right now?

As we were moving our necks mindfully and observing how far is too far to cause discomfort, as we moved in our pain-free range of motion, I pointed out how this is what it truly means to be a practitioner of Yoga:

I am present. I am aware. I accept things as they are without needing to change them.

Surprise! When we are able to rest in this awareness, Life begins to shift on its own without any interference from us. Even our neck starts to feel better. I know this to be true because I have seen it over and over again in my life and in the lives of my students.

This is the essence of being a yoga practitioner: As we stay with ourselves and look clearly at the circumstances in which we find ourselves without running away, ignoring or otherwise needing to fix ourselves, we begin to see more clearly into the deepest meaning of being a human on this incredible journey.

So what if everything IS fine as it is right now? How might you respond to Life?

We were talking about love and cannoli this past weekend at yoga school. They fit together nicely, don’t you think? And it made for an interesting discussion of what we love, why we love, and how love really is the thing that makes the world go ‘round.

I grew up in Chicago and during the 1970s my family moved into a suburb that had strong Italian-American heritage. Not being Italian myself, I was fascinated by the culture and the cooking. I fell in love with cannoli, so different from any other dessert I had ever had. The women who cooked in the local restaurants and markets made the best Italian food and, of course, the best cannoli.

Several others in class had stories to tell of eating cannoli in Italian neighborhoods in other cities. The longing for a delicious cannoli set in but with no way to be transported back in time or to a location where we could have something that we love.

This thing called “love” is interesting to consider. Valentine’s Day may be overly focused on romantic love, but love in all its forms truly is a beautiful thing in our world.

Love shows up in many other ways beyond romance—the love we have for companion animals and Nature, loving the work we get to do whether its vocational or avocational, loving music or art or the written word, and definitely loving food like an amazing cannoli.

Here’s the thing about love that gets me every time: Love can never be diminished. You can give love to all of those things I listed—and more!—and you will never, ever have less love to give. In fact, love actually increases the more it is shared. Hey, you can’t say that about a cannoli; if I have two cannoli and I give one to you, well that only leaves one for me. But maybe we can sit outside on this beautiful day and eat the cannoli together, celebrating the love that multiplies and never fades away.

We open and close a lot of doors in our lifetime, don’t we? There are, of course, all the physical doors we go through, but there are many figurative ones too—such as starting or ending a career, a relationship or any phase of our life. The phrases “open the door” and “close the door” are used to signal these moments of crossing over from one place to another.

I got to wondering this week: “Can the doorway be like a mindfulness bell calling us back to our best selves?” Here are a couple of examples of how this became clearer for me.

My friend was the recipient of two small diamond-shaped pieces of paper which carried the parallel verses for the lunar new year. The giving and receiving of these verses is an annual custom in the tradition of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. The verses for this year are breathing in “Peace in every step,” breathing out “Freedom in every smile.” She decided to tape them to her front door so that she would see them and pause to breathe as she was heading out the door in the morning.

Another friend was telling me about the “do not disturb” sign she had purchased to place on the door of her meditation room so that she could alert other family members to her need for quiet and privacy. She got into the habit of storing the sign on the inside of her door when she wasn’t meditating. Recently she read the sign as she was walking out of her meditation room and it dawned on her that inside the door was actually a better location for the sign. It is now a reminder of her commitment to not disturb others as she makes her way through this life.

I invite you to observe the doors you cross over both literally and figuratively. What have you carried over those thresholds? What have you left behind? What can you do to remind yourself of the qualities you wish to embody as you step through the door?