Obaitori

ayurvedic breakfast porridges

Our breakfast creation starts the night before by soaking the grain because it opens it up and allows it to become more digestable. I mainly use organic unstabilised rolled oats as they suit my children very well. A dear friend, Jaymie* uses a lovely combination for her porridge of a third quinox, a third rice flakes and a third oats.

I love that after we have offered our breakfast our house smells like cardomon, cinnamon and incense. A great start to the day and well worth the simple effort that nourishes, heals and delights everyone.

Method ~

1 cup oats - soaked in fresh water

Heat 1 tbs of ghee in saucepan - inhale and smile - add oats to toast

Add 1 tbs LSA, 1/2 tsp cardomon, 1/2 tsp cinnamon

For a sweet flavour add either 2 tsps of rapidura sugar or dried dates and raisins

Keep stiring, at this point you can add in the milk*

After eight or ten minutes the porridge should be ready.

On the top add a little maple syrup.

*Jaymie Maley, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant on the Central Coast suggests if you have anyone in the home with a cold of excess phlegm, increase the spices and omit the maple syrup.

For a rolled flat rice recipe here.

Here also is another beautiful breakfast recipe.

Moving into Autumn

In the southern hemisphere we are moving into the dosha of Vata - wind. I've been adding lots of very simple things to our lives which protect us from the wind, cold and disease.

Dr Swami Shankardev is an eminent yoga teacher, author, medical doctor and yoga therapist. He lived with Swami Satyananda for 10 years and has taught yoga, meditation and tantra for 30 years. He also studied Ayurveda from the Ayurvedic Institute, Albuquerque, USA.

Here, with very kind permission from the Master himself, is Swami Shankardev's advice for moving into autumn.

"Autumn is predominantly a cool season where vata predominates. Living in a windy or dry climate or at a high altitude will increase vata further, especially in autumn. This will increase vata in our physical and our mental-emotional bodies. If you have a vata constitution then this is a time to be especially careful.

The physical effects of vata are to increase dryness, ungroundedness, and cold. The emotions associated with increased vata can include fear and anxiety, and feeling scattered, ungrounded, spacey and insecure.

No matter what our constitutions, we can soothe Vata in our lives by working on our selves with an understanding of Ayurvedic principles. The antidotes to vata include, by using warm oil for self-massages daily before bathing, warm baths, meditation, gentle walks, spending time with people we love, soothing music and generally surrounding ourselves with warmth, both emotionally and physically.

At the change of seasons it is good to simplify the diet. We also need to take time to chew our food well, take a few deep breaths after eating, eat at the same times every day and eat warm, nourishing, freshly-cooked, easily digestible foods. Kitcheri is especially soothing as it gives our bodies a chance to shift gears along with the seasons and keeps digestion strong.

The yogic practices for the change of seasons include slow and gentle asana followed by shavasana or yoga nidra, then gentle nadi shodhana, and relaxing meditations. Learn to be appropriate to your needs."

Swami Shankardev is an Acharya (authority) in the Satyananda lineage and he teaches throughout the world. Yoga and meditation techniques and Ayurveda have been the foundation of his yoga therapy, medical and psychotherapy practice for over 30 years. For further information visit; Big Shakti.

yoga milk ~ sleepy and warm

 

Insomnia, can be one of those crazy symptoms of increased vata in the body. It affects the mind & the nervous system leaving it frazzled. Here today for my beautiful insomniac friends, a few tips from Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic extraordinaire.

This is a beautiful routine I often give my slightly pitta/vata crazy husband, Dazla. He takes on a new persona when his vata is increased. Then I call him Razzle. Usually with an exclamation mark, "Razzle!"

This, very simple program, is suited to most doshas & is a treat before bedtime for all ages.  However, the meditation is only for adults.

Physical Remedy -

♥ take a warm bath, after rub warmed black sesame, brahmi, jatamamsi oil onto the scalp & the soles of the feet, put on a pair of socks. Or make a 10ml roller ball with fractionated coconut oil; 10d Lavender Peace, 10d Vetiver, 5d Roman Chamomile, roll onto the soles of the feet, massage in, pop on your socks.

Body Remedy 

♥ Yoga Milk -

    1. in the morning, soak 10 blanched almonds.

    2.boil one cup of your choice of milk, blend with the almonds.

    3. add 1/8 tsp Nutmeg, 1 drop Cardamom, 1d Black Pepper, 1 teaspoon honey (for internal, only use pure oils like doTERRA)

Mind Remedy -

♥ sitting in bed, practise the So Hum meditation for 5 to 10 minutes; start to observe the natural breath, take the awareness to the chest, ingoing & outgoing breath. Begin to hear the natural sound of the breath, so on inhalation, hum on exhalation. The mind will wander again and again, just bring it back to, so hum. Finish with your sankalpa/resolve or simply state, "I will sleep deeply".

Drink your milk & you should sleep like a baby, a very good baby - who sleeps all night ; )

 

 Amma

 

What if you slept...

What if you slept

And what if

In your sleep

You dreamed

And what if

In your dream

You went to heaven

And there plucked a strange and beautiful flower

And what if

When you awoke

You had that flower in your hand

Ah, what then?

~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge ~