#6 – Kapha Dosha
December 20, 2009
Kapha Dosha
Kapha brings the stability and solidity of earth and water to the body/mind. Kapha is responsible for immune function, strength and vitality, lubrication and structure.
Symptoms of Kapha imbalance:
Sluggish digestion, weight gain, respiratory illnesses, sinus problems
Mental fog, depression
Excessive sleep and inactivity
Diet for Kapha:
Favor light, pungent, warm and easy to digest foods such as salads, soups and leafy greens. Avoid sweets, meats and cheese
Good grains are moderate amounts of brown rice, barley, corn and millet
Good vegetables are bitter melon, leafy greens, cabbage and cauliflower
Small amounts of fruit such as pomogrenate, cherries, grapefruit
In general:
Avoid naps and heavy foods
Exercise regularly including brisk walking and several rounds of surya namaskar.
Be motivated and have a project to work on with a deadline that you are comfortable with.
Mantras for balancing Kapha dosha
Ganesha mantras are wonderful for balancing kapha. You can use the simple mantra from out earlier podcast “OM Gum Ganapataye Namaha” or if you’d like something a little stronger, Ganesh Gayatri can be used.
“OM Tat purushaya vidmahae
Vakratundaya deemahee,
thanno dandi prachodayat”
Aparna Khanolkar is an Ayurvedic lifestyle and culinary coach in Santa Barbara and travels throughout the LA region to teach workshops. She offers Vedic cooking classes in Santa Barbara and is always available for phone consultations. Contact her at 805-698-5630 or aparna@themistressofspice.com.
Aparna’s new cookbook, Happy Belly, Happy Soul is available here.
#22 – Putting It All Together
December 10, 2009
In this show Penny brings together the planets or grahas, the houses or bhavas, and the signs or rashis in a way that starts to show the Jyotish chart as a cohesive whole. This integrated vision forms the basis for the systematic interpretation of the chart and thus the individual’s life experience.
Penny practices and teaches Jyotisha full-time having been trained primarily under the expert tutelage of Hart deFouw. She is also a teacher and tutor for the American College of Vedic Astrology. Her website is www.vedicchart.com and she can be reached via email at info@vedicchart.com or pennyaf@comcast.net.
Ganesha Mantra to Remove Debt
December 9, 2009
A Ganesha Mantra to Remove Debt
Of course Ganesha is the best place to begin when you are starting something new and for the New Year we also need the blessings of Lakshmi to bring us wealth and abundance over the next 12 months. There are numerous mantras that invoke both Ganesha and Lakshmi together.
A simple one is OM Gam Ganapataye Vara Varada Gam OM
And there is a specific form of this mantra that is of particular importance in the alleviation of debts. It is intended to be practiced for 40 consecutive days in order to bear its full fruit. So get our your japa beads!
OM Shreem Gam Runa Hartaye Gam Shreem OM Ganapatayae Namaha
OM Shreem is a mantra that invokes Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance, Gam is Ganesha in seed form, Runa is that which sticks to me…debts, Hartaye means to destroy, Gam is Ganesha again to remove obstacles, Shreem is Lakshmi again to bring wealth, OM Ganapayayae is Ganesha and Namaha means to honor or to bow down….in essence the way we say please in a mantra.
#5 – Pitta Dosha
December 6, 2009
Pitta Pacifying Tips
Pitta is the manifestation of fire and water. It governs digestion, metabolism and vision.
Symptoms of Pitta imbalance:
Hyperacidity, inflammation, rashes, and feeling overheated
Anger, jealousy, and critical emotions
Too much activity, overly task-oriented and exhausted from feeling compelled to work
Diet for Pitta:
Eat cooling foods such as cucumber, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, peas, potatoes and leafy greens
Favor sweet ripe fruits such as blueberries, dark grapes, melons, pears, raisins, mangoes, figs, and coconut
Eat grains such as barley, basmati rice, wheat and quinoa
Avoid beets, carrots, eggplant, garlic, hot peppers, onions, spinach and tomatoes
Avoid sour or unripe fruits
In general:
Avoid being too focused on lists of tasks
Meditate regularly and rest more.
Spend time in nature – especially greenery
Eat on time and avoid activities that heat up the body/mind such as hot yoga,
being the sun for lengthy periods of time and running
Fig and Date Almond Drink
Ingredients:
3 figs soaked in ½ cup water overnight
5 dates soaked with the figs
1 ½ cups almond milk
1 tsp vanilla
Preparation:
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend for 3 minutes. Serve chilled.
Fresh Almond Milk
Ingredients:
½ cup raw almonds
3 cups water
Preparation:
Soak the almonds in water overnight or in hot water for about 30 minutes. Peel the almonds. Grind it with water and till the almonds are blended finely. You may have to do this in two batches. Place a bowl on the counter and carefully pour the nut milk from the blender into the straining bag or a fine mesh strainer. Discard the almond meal and enjoy the milk in teas, or drinks.
Mantra for Balancing Pitta
This mantra is for Narasimha, the incarnation of Vishnu with the head of a lion. His mantras are uniquely powerful for being calming and helping to maintain harmony especially in the family environment.
“OM Narasimha Ta Va Da So Hoom”
You can repeat this mantra either using a mala to count in multiples of 108, or use the clock so you repeat the manta for 10 minutes at a time. Mantras should be repeated easily and you can have eyes open or closed, as you prefer. This is not mental exercise! Relax into your practice and try to be consistent for 3-4 weeks. Don’t over do it, a little bit each day will work wonders.
Aparna’s new cookbook, Happy Belly, Happy Soul is available here.