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Ayurveda Newsletter

Newsletter  

Spring 2006

Fall 2005 

Dear Friends,

Detoxify and Rejuvenate- That is Panchakarma. A wonderful discovery made by the great seers. In this newsletter I will be introducing you to Panchakarma treatments.

Panchakarma is an old age Ayurvedic method for detoxification and rejuvenation. These are beautiful relaxing therapies offered in an appropriate series, to maintain health and address specific health concerns.

It is a therapy for prevention, cleansing, rejuvenation, detoxification and cure. For maintaining health and rejuvenation it is done at the change of every season and for a particular ailment it can be done for periods of a day, week to over a month.
 
Benefits from Panchakarma are many. It boosts the immune system, removes the impurities, eliminates toxins and improves digestion. It reduces fatigue and anxiety, stress and pain. It improves vitality and is helpful in chronic disorders. It calms not just the body but also the mind thus providing profound tranquility and serenity.  The best analogy in terms of our daily lives is that of an automobile tune up. Every 3000 miles or so it is recommended that we get a tune up for the automobile. This lengthens the life of the vehicle and also improves its performance. Panchakarma or PK for short, does just the same and more for this human vehicle and is recommended every 3000 miles J or at the change of seasons to maintain health.

Panchakarma itself means five therapies. These five therapies include Vaman or emesis, Nasya or Nasal administration of herbs or oils, Rakta Mokshan or blood purification, Virechan or purgation and Basti or Medicated enemas. These five therapies are used to cleanse the body of accumulated toxins and to rejuvenate every cell of the body. But which therapy is to be used and with what herbs is determined by the Vaidya only after a careful examination of the prakruti, vikruti and the overall health condition of the individual. We will discuss these therapies in details in our next few newsletters.

But before a Panchakarma regimen, Purvakarma is performed; Purvakarma is a group of therapies that are done in advance of a Panchakarma to prepare the body. Purvakarma includes Snehan (deep massage) and Svedan (Steam therapy).

Meanwhile, at Ayurbliss Panchakarma therapies for health include a five-day session or a la carte’ treatments advised according to the personal need by the practitioner.

The most popular a la carte’ treatments are Abhyanga (Snehan) or Ayurvedic Bodywork and Shirodhara.

We are now offering “Abhyanga and Shirodhara” at “Ayurbliss”.

Welcome Suzanna Marquez, our new therapist, who will be providing the authentic Ayurvedic Treatment- “Abhyanga”. Abhyanga involves application of herbalized oil to the entire body. It is soothing and relaxing to the nervous system, and it also acts to mobilize accumulated toxins in the skin, helping in their elimination. It helps balance all the three doshas. We have an introductory price of $60 for an Abhyanga session lasting one hour.

 “Shirodhara- Oil Drip on the Forehead Treatment” Is another therapy we are now offering at Ayurbliss^TM.

Shirodhara calms your nerves creating unimaginable relaxation. A wonderful treatment for stress, anxiety, insomnia, nervous disorders, migraines, lower backache, kidney problems, skin problems and constipation. Shirodhara is priced at $80 for a session lasting an hour.

 (Testimonial: Shirodhara provided relaxation and a deep sense of peace and calm – a perfect way to start my next birth year- M.J)

 Rucha’s Articles:

Look out for the articles-  “Irritable Bowel Syndrome” and “Multiple Sclerosis”- in the next few issues of the LA Yoga Magazine.

Presentation: 

It is a great pleasure to announce that Rucha will be a presenter at the upcoming NAMA Conference 2005 that will be held at Las Vegas, NV. Oct 20^th - Oct 23^rd. Please look up on the NAMA website www.ayurveda-nama.org for the schedule. She will be presenting a workshop on “Assessment and Management of Acute and Chronic Vata Disorders” and will also be a part of a Panel Discussion on “Women’s Health”.

Upcoming Events:     

    1) Ayurvedic Baby Massage Workshop

 September 18^th 2005

2) Ayurveda Skin Care Workshop

    October 9^th 2005

3) NAMA Conference

    October 20^th to Oct 23^rd 2005

Thanks for the opportunity to be of service. We would love to have your feedback at info@ayurbliss.com.

Namaste’

Rucha Kelkar

April 2005

Dear Friends,

Spring is back!  A renewal time for all aspects of life, Spring is a reawakening of the whole planet! Fresh flowers and chirping birds, the beautiful dawn and the gorgeous dusk, spring is back in full color.In our Spring 2005 Newsletter we are going to focus on one of the pillars of good health, Agni or Digestive Fire. Agni of an individual determines to a great extent his health and vitality. 

“Adyate vidhivat bhuktamatti bhoktaramanyatha

ayushyam swasthyadam purvamanyathaivetarat smrutam” 

Food eaten in the right way is digested well by the person who eats it and brings health and long life. Contrary to this, food eaten in the incorrect way eats up the person itself (in the form of ailments) and is unhealthy and gives a short life span. 

In Ayurveda food is nourishment and what one eats matters vitally. In Ayurveda Digestion is the key to health, Agni the Digestive fire not only digests food but it also digests our experiences of life. Bad digestion is the source of all diseases. 

What are the characteristics of “Food eaten in the right way”?

1)      Mental State: Never eat when you are mentally disturbed. Never force-feed anyone if they do not feel like eating.

2)      Quality: Eat freshly cooked food, using fresh ingredients whenever possible.

3)      Constitution: Eat food that balances your constitution.

4)      Quantity: Do not over-eat. Fasting on regular intervals is also helpful in resting the digestive fire and burning toxins. Some people follow the routine of skipping every 15^th meal or so.

5)      Time of the Day: “Breakfast a little after sunrise, lunch at noon time and a light dinner by sunset” is a simple rule that keeps digestion strong and effective.

6)      Season: In the upcoming fiery pitta season (Summer) one should prefer cooling foods.

7)      Geographic location: Prefer food that is grown in your geographic area. 

Ayurvedic nutrition aims to enhance digestion. As mentioned in the Sanskrit verse above it is very important to pay attention to what you eat, where you eat and how much you eat. Of all the elements essential for positive health, food taken in the proper amount is regarded as important. Too much food will act like sand on fire- dousing the fire. And too little food will be like very few twigs for the fire to burn well. So it is important to eat the right amount, the amount appropriate for your constitution. 

Product News:

With this renewal season we would like to renew our relationship with you by announcing our new product line that will be extremely beneficial to support a healthy lifestyle.We have a line of Ayurvedic products including herbs, various Ayurvedic herbal combinations, Neti pots and Ayurvedic Beauty Products.It should be up on our website soon! 

A Note: 

Ayurvedic Cooking Workshop

It was a pleasure to conduct the Ayurvedic Cooking Workshop in March. It was a great success and the participants thoroughly enjoyed the “Lunch and Learn” menu.  We hope to offer more Ayurvedic cooking workshops in the future, so be on the lookout!! 

Presentation: 

 1)  “Lighten Up”- Wellness Teachers Coming Together

‘An Introduction to Ayurveda’ by Rucha Kelkar at the Center for Divine Awakening, Phoenix, AZ on April 23^rd 2005 at 11.00am. 

Upcoming Events: 

1)    Ayurveda Workshop

April 24^th 2005

2)    A Day Long Ayurveda Retreat

May 28^th 2005

 3)    Ayurveda Diet and Lifestyle Consultations

 May 29^th 2005

 4)    Women’s Health…. An Ayurveda and Yoga Workshop for Women’s Wellness

 May 21st 2005

 5)    Introduction to Ayurveda 

June 25^th 2005