Chaya's Diaries; Zoom Yoga and The Yoga of Not Touching Your Face

Ayurvedic Nutrition & Food Fundamentals; Ama~Metabolic Waste

     Ayurvedic Nutrition & Food Fundamentals 

Includes: 6 Stages of Digestion, 5 Nutritional Disorders, 4 States of Agni, 3 Doshas, 2 Potent Energies & 1 Moment

Ama ~Metabolic Waste

When our digestive capacity, also referred to as, our digestive fire or agni is disturbed, incompletely digested food forms an internal, toxic, morbid, substance known as ama. This undigested, unripened, undigested, glue-like, sticky substance may accumulate, putrefy, ferment, and lodge anywhere in the body, with a tendency to begin at it’s weakest place (kavaigunya). Thereby, ama is the end product of poorly digested food and forms due to weak, dull or variable agni, clogging the channels, such as the blood and lymph, giving rise to diseases, such as arthritis, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, thyroid conditions, diabetes, allergies and more.

Ayurveda’s verbiage of clogged channels and accumulation of ama, is saying the same thing as the new age verbiage, leaky gut syndrome, and is associated with the current popularity of conversations about disorders of the microbiome by vitiating our gastrointestinal tract, but Ayurveda takes it further to state that this digestive process occurs in every cell of our body, determining the healthy replication, growth and development of each cell, tissue and organ, contributing to the over all health and vitality of a person.

We can see the early signs and symptoms of ama begin to accumulate, at what we should consider the early stages of disease, and take steps at this preventative stage. Just as current research suggests that diet and lifestyle affects the outcome of one’s genetic storyboard, Ayurveda provides the same road map in an easier, more accessible and user friendly road map to do this appropriately, recognizing that it’s not one size fits all, and taking a truly holistic approach in adjusting one’s diet and lifestyle, that most often would suffice to return to a healthy condition.

To read more about the specific signs and symptoms of Ama per dosha, a health questionnaire to determine your own body and mind impurities and an ama reducing recipe, access our resources here

Celebrating Women's History Month and Women Entrepreneurs

Chaya's Diary #2

Growing In The New

Spring Equinox Blissings & Blessings

ChayaVeda In Unprecedented Times and the Ayurvedic Perspective of Coronavirus

We understand that public concerns around the spread of coronavirus (renamed COVID-19) may affect your future planning, and we are closely monitoring news regarding the virus. The situation is evolving rapidly with new information available daily. This includes information about our programs and services, and below you will also find useful Ayurvedic information to help keep you healthy and relaxed during this unprecedented time.

Due to the nature of our work and the distance many of our clients and students travel, we are postponing the upcoming Ayurvedic Massage & Bodywork; Garshana & Abhyanga course, at our retreat center to a future date, likely July 18 & 19, 2020 (waiting to hear back from everyone currently registered to secure the date).

Since most of our work in our Gainesville studio is one on one, we have decided to screen, clean and be seen. While we are postponing courses at the retreat house, our healing arts studio is open, where we continue to be a place of healing and balance for all who seek it, with up-leveled hygiene for everyone’s safety and are also available for Ayurvedic Health Consultations in person, virtually or by phone.

We first and foremost care deeply about the health and well‑being of our clients, staff and community, and ask that you read through the following.

At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and related government agencies have said that we can continue with our daily routines, and we believe that it’s important to stay vigilant and do what we can to provide the best environment at our studio so you can enjoy your session and visit with peace of mind.

I am closely monitoring official guidance from local governmental and health authorities and the World Health Organization in order to support the health and well‑being of our community.

We are actively encouraging staff to stay home if they have recently traveled out of the country or been in contact with someone who has or if they present any symptoms and our UF Intern team continues to meet virtually.

For our cleaning procedures, which are already very comprehensive, we are taking additional measures to sanitize all surfaces before and after each client.

For up‑to‑date information on COVID-19 please consider this source as provided by the CDC.

If you present with any symptoms of the flu, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath, or have been in contact with or have recently traveled to any of the affected countries and/or states and regions please stay home.
In addition, if you have a compromised immune system, take extra precautions.

The CDC has also made available a list of suggested prevention tips. Please take steps to protect yourself and others and use this as a time to up level mindful practices that could make others sick or uncomfortable. 

We will continuously evaluate and monitor the situation and share pertinent information with our community as it becomes available. 

This is taking a hard financial hit to me and our company, and the ability to cover our expenses during this unprecedented time. We ask everyone for their patience, prayers and support, and please visit our shop and consider purchasing a ChayaVeda Gift Certificate for later use, a book-Yoga of Action; Holisitic Lifestyle and Adaptive Yoga for People with MS and Similar Conditions, ChayaVeda Inspirational Greeting Cards or ChayaVeda T-shirt, or if you are able to make a contribution for our ongoing existence, Thank you for considering!!

We also have 2 free yoga nidra/relaxation recordings, kitchari recipe and dosha questionnaire here

We are here to help you remain balanced, relaxed and healthy.


Management of Viruses from the Ayurvedic Perspective: 
Firstly, An Over-all Ayurvedic recommended regimen (Pathya) includes:
Keep yourself warm. Even though its spring and we all want to shed the jackets, Keep it! The constant fluctuation of the temperature, as well as the rainy days, makes it harder for your agni to resist infections. 

Don't keep your head wet or cold. If you're going to wash your hair, plan to blow dry it as well. Any undue moisture on your head during this time allows for more building of kapha. A pinch of Rasnadi churnam on the top of your head (fontanel) really helps with that. 

AVIOD the cold beverage at all costs! If we're trying to limit our risk, then we need to cut out the cold which promotes stagnation, suppression of the agni and so much more. But you already know this. 

Light incense that is pure and preferably ones that are more stimulating such as Naga Champa, or patchouli. It helps to purify your surroundings but also acts as a mild dhumapana (smoke inhalation) to clear your nasal passages. AVOID Neti and Nasya at this time. It can be too much moisture when the environment already has moisture. We are trying to keep things hot and dry, so the dry heat is preferred. In saying that, a sauna would also be beneficial whenever you have the chance.   

For Apathya (things to avoid) use your better judgment. You all know what factors aggravate kapha and suppress the agni, so all those factors should be avoided.  

I hope this information is helpful and that you all stay healthy and safe. Don’t forget to focus on the positive and that state of your mind matters.

For deep relaxation please use this link to access my yoga nidra recordings.
https://chayaveda.com/resources
For more continue reading below and for specific Ayurvedic education that supports health and wellness, please contact me to schedule an Ayurvedic Consultation, available in person, virtually or by phone.

As you may all be inundated with information about the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important to look at things that we do know and reflect on past experiences in the management of similar conditions. 

Yes, all viruses are unique, however there is a pattern as to whom is more susceptible as opposed to others who can resist such infections. 
In Ayurveda, we know that it is those with problems of: Agni and Kapha
Excess kledata (moisture/ stagnation) 
As well as it being Spring (kapha season), it makes for an ideal breeding ground for a host of external pathogens including viruses. 

In China, where the outbreak first began, they are incorporating TCM in the management of coronavirus cases. More than 50% of the cases are being managed effectively with TCM, because not all cases are fatal. 

High Risk Groups include those with Pre-existing conditions of Diabetes. As per Ayurveda, we can expand on this list by including all chronic Kapha predominant disorders, digestive disorders especially with chronic ama and manda agni and disorders with circulation (Sroto Rodha, especially in the Kapha Sthana or the respiratory tract). 

Management options in Ayurveda focus on Maintaining the health of the healthy (Svastsya Svasta samraksana).

AGNI! Dipana pacana methods are key because only the Agni has the ability to make the system strong and reduce as many of the systemic risk or excess kapha build up.  What keeps the agni nice and strong? Cooking with SPICES!! 
You can use your usual kapha blends or opt for other prophylactic measures like Sitopaladi (for vatas and pittas) or Talisadi (for Kaphas). 

Another method of keeping the agni nice and strong as well as preventing kapha build-up is ginger tea, tulsi tea, ginger tumeric tea, cinnamon tea etc. 

Reduce Kapha: Now this also comes with an "it depends". Reduce kapha ONLY IF you have excess kapha to reduce! If you don’t have excess, then the normal healthy kapha is required to keep you stable and healthy! 

Follow the normal Spring protocol. Avoid dairy primarily cold milk and cheese. If you have to, have yogurt in the form of takra with spices. SMALL quantities of ghee might be okay. Use only if needed. 

Enhance immunity (Vyadhiksamatvam):  
Things that boost immunity such as Amla (my favorite is amla candy/ sweet amla). Tulsi will also have this effect along with those listed above. Tripahala can also help here. 

Guduchi (tinospora cordfolia) does ALL of the above. It increases Agni, enhances circulation, clears the srotas, is a rasayana AND has an affinity towards the respiratory & cardiovascular system. 

Managing ailments of the diseased (Aturasya Vikara Prasamana):  
If someone does get sick, then we would follow the protocol for fever (jvara), that includes asthmatic symptoms (svasa). 

Dasamoolakatutreyam Kasayam (10 mL + 30 mL warm water 20 mins before a meal) 
Amritottaram Kasayam (includes Guduchi) 
Vasa Arishtam (30 mL after a meal) 
Abhaya Arishtam (includes haritaki, 30 mL after a meal) 
Agastya Rasayana once the Agni is back. 
Proprietary Formulations:
 Septalin (1 -2 tabs twice daily) 
Trishun (by Zandu) 1 tab after food 

If the case is more severe, then it would be based on the individual requirements and you may need to contact your medical doctor for further support.