Thanksgiving is a great time to share Ayurvedic health tips with others. Studies continue to suggest that healthy digestion (Ayurveda refers to digestion as “agni,” literally meaning “fire”) is the bodies natural defense against disease, as it burns away and cleanses the body of accumulated toxins. By incorporating simple Ayurvedic foods & cooking techniques this…
It’s no secret that massage helps increase circulation, moves lymph, enhances our immunity and helps alleviate body aches and pains. Massage has the power to reduce stress while releasing happiness hormones in the body and brain. When the body is gently anointed & massaged with warm oils, dryness is counteracted, joints are lubricated & excess…
Every day we breath air in and out of the nasal passageways; this is the most vital source of prana, life force energy, that we get from our environment. Notice how tired you feel when you are congested with a head cold or unable to breath fully- we are not able to access prana/energy from…
Just because you’re going out on a backcountry trip doesn’t mean you must resort to freeze-dried, prepackaged, overly processed dehydrated foods. It’s ironic actually, that we are physically exerting ourselves & relying on “low prana” foods to sustain us. Prana means “life force” or “vital life energy.” It’s a yogic concept that refers to the…
Spring is upon us. Snow melts, days get longer, flowers begin budding, leaves unfurling… it’s hard to deny it- we are deeply affected by this awakening around us. Spring is a season of new beginnings, growth and renewal. Ayurveda observes that what is happening outside in nature, is also happening within us as well. Just like…
What is Giardia? Giardia Lamblia is the most common intestinal parasite worldwide; in the USA, there’s almost 45,000 cases per year- about 2% of the population has been infected at one time or another. It can cause a variety of digestive symptoms like diarrhea & greasy stool, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, excessive burping, loss of…
A day of hiking can leave you with tight quadriceps, calves, hamstrings and hip flexors. Below are some of my favorite yoga postures to help unwind and stretch muscles used when hiking & backpacking. These are postures I use when I’m out on trips; I might do some during the day while I’m hiking, but…
What is Ayurveda? Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old system of natural healing with roots in the Vedic Culture of India. The word Ayurveda originates from two Sanskrit words; Ayur meaning “life” & Veda meaning “knowledge” or “science.” This “Life Science”, or “Life Knowledge” is often described as Yoga’s sister science. It offers a body…
Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient science that evolved in India. It translates as “Life wisdom” or “science of longevity. Ayur means “life” or “longevity” & veda means “wisdom” or “science.” If that sounds a little broad…well, that’s because it is. Ayurvedic medicine is all about creating health and vitality within the whole person- mind, body and…
Paddling, both whitewater & flat water, can create tension or stiffness in the shoulders from constant rotation, the abdominal obliques from twisting, and hips from keeping the body stable while in the boat. Increasing your range of motion and flexibility in these areas can help reduce risk of injury & keep you on the water…