The aim of Yoga is

Chitta Vritti Nirodha

the cessation of the fluctuations of mind (Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras 1:12)

Class Style Offerings

Tantra, Hatha, and Vinyasa (The essence of Parayoga)

Most of my classes incorporate techniques from tantra, hatha and vinyasa yoga. These three styles of yoga are blended together for a comprehensive experience of asana (postures), pranayama (breath) and meditation. My classes are intuitively designed to be efficient at getting energy moving and redistributed to areas of the body that need it most. I aim to help students uncover gratitude, joy and a deep connection with atman (authentic self) in every class. I believe yoga is less about doing postures perfectly and more about finding a dramatic shift in perspective and revealing a beautiful tapestry of uniqueness in each individual. My classes have a familiarity to other yoga classes but with an acute attention to breath and the subtle body.

Restorative

Restorative yoga is a special style of yoga that is intended to give back to the mind/body/spirit what has been lost due to environment, stress and lack of self-care. This style is nurturing, whole and a beautiful compliment to your healthy lifestyle. It is my deep desire to share the desperate need for restorative yoga. Available to anyone, of all ages, shapes and sizes, restorative has health benefits that far exceed other forms of exercise. In fact, it has been shown to lower blood pressure, result in sustained weightloss and improve sleep.

Prenatal

I am a trained prenatal yoga instructor and understand the changes to the female body during pregnancy. Yoga is a wonderful form of movement for the pregnant woman and can be done throughout the duration of pregnancy. It is key to understand both the limitations and strengths of the pregnant body and to build a class that compliments the needs of a pregnant woman. All my classes are available to women during pregnancy but please let me know so I can help you understand which postures to avoid and the benefits of other postures during pregnancy.

THE SISTER SCIENCE OF YOGA

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is the sister science of yoga. Ayur is translated as Life and Veda is translated as Science. This tradition and knowledge that dates back thousands of years can be thought of as the science of life. Ayurveda is an intelligent, intuitive and observational philosophy that relies heavily on the natural rhythms of nature to determine the best way to care for the mind, body and spirit. By identifying the five natural elements that make up the foundation of our earthly existence, Ayurveda observes how these elements interact in the whole of the person. An individual’s unique combination of the 5 elements make up their constitution and Ayurveda provides suggestions, tools and wisdom to live in harmony with that constitution for optimal health and disease prevention. Through food, lifestyle and daily routine, you can discover the best version of yourself.

• Private Consultations available. Please see rates and location for additional information.

• Small Group Workshops on lifestyle and cooking

• Studio Workshops on Ayurveda Basics

Please fill out my form to inquire about any of my Ayurveda Offerings!

SAMPLE OF AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Kitchari

Kitchari (pronounced kich-uh-ree) is a dish traditionally used in Ayurveda to heal and cleanse the body. This easily digested, flavorful dish consists of a combination of split mung beans, white basmati rice and a variety of spices selected to balance the individual’s unique constitution. Kitchari is a complete meal that is balancing for all constitution types. What is your constitution? Contact Me for a private Ayurvedic consult or take this online quiz from Banyan Botanicals. Rice and mung beans together provide all the amino acids required to form a complete protein. Some of the noted benefits of this dish are the following:

• Supports stable blood sugar

• The combination of food is so gentle on the digestive system that it can be eaten by the most sensitive of digestive systems

• Eating a Mono Diet (eating the same thing for several days or more) gives our digestion a rest

• There is plenty of nourishment in Kitchari to sustain you through the whole day

• Kitchari improves digestion by stimulating digestive fire known as Agni in Ayurveda

• Kitchari reduces toxins in the body and lessens toxic buildup known as Ama in Ayurveda

• Ayurveda believes that the keys to preventing and eliminating disease in the body is to establish healthy Agni and to eliminate Ama

  see Banyan Botanicals for more information on Kitchari

RECIPE

• 1 cup of white basmati rice

• 1/2 cup of split yellow mung dahl soaked overnight

• 2-3 Tbsp of ghee (clarified butter)

• 6 cups of water

• 2 cups of sautéed or roasted vegetables (pick seasonally fresh, local, organic easily digestible veggies such as: asparagus, zucchini, sweet potatoes, beets, squash, carrots and choice of greens- kale, mustard greens or chard)

• 1 Tbsp Spice mixture (this will change depending on season and based on your individual constitution)

  • 4 Bay Leaves

  • 4 small pieces of cinnamon bark

  • 4 cloves whole

  • 4 cardamon pods

  • 3/4 tsp of Himalayan sea salt

  • 1 tsp fresh grated ginger

Combine rice and soaked yellow mung dahl in a large soup pot. Add water to cover ingredients. Bring to boil then cover and lower heat to a simmer and cook for about 30 minutes. About 10 minutes into cooking, add vegetables on top of rice and mung dahl and return lid and let simmer for remaining 20 minutes. You can also roast vegetables on a baking sheet for 20 minutes at 375 degrees instead of steaming in the same pot. While rice mixture is cooking, in a small saucepan melt the ghee and add the spices (use a mortar and pestle to grind up spices and combine), stir to combine. Combine ghee with rice mixture and stir. Serve with optional garnishes of cilantro, roasted pumpkin seeds, a dollop of plain yogurt, a splash of gluten free tamari or Braggs.

Chai

Chai is a special Indian tea that has become all the rage in the West. Although the Chai we typically find at Starbucks tastes very different than what you might be served in India, this drink has morphed into many tasty varieties. I make my own Chai spices and then brew the drink my own way for a healthy and happy afternoon treat. Typical spices that will seduce your senses while making this drink are clove, cinnamon, anise, vanilla, fennel. Chai does contain a small amount of black tea and usually consists of adding milk or a non-dairy substitute. The following recipe is inspired from an Ayurveda Cookbook titled “Eat Taste Heal” and is my favorite variety. I have altered a few of the steps to simplify for my lifestyle.

RECIPE

• Filtered water

• Organic Whole milk

Chai Spice (makes 5-6 servings, I usually triple the recipe and save the spices for continued use. Each single serving requires 2 tsp-1 Tbsp of the spice mixture)

• 2 tsp coriander seeds

• 1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger or 2 tsp ground ginger

• 1 Tbsp whole fennel seeds

• 2 tsp whole cardamom pods

• 1 tsp black tea leaves

• 1 tsp whole cloves

• 2 star anise pods

• 2 cinnamon sticks or 2 tsp ground cinnamon

• honey or stevia to sweeten

Combine spices and spread on a non stick baking sheet (omit ginger if using fresh and leave tea leaves out). Roast spices for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Combine roasted spices and grind in a coffee grinder and add to a glass jar with lid. Combine the black tea leaves in your spice mixture. Combine 3/4 cup of milk or milk alternative, 1/4 cup of water (can change this ratio to your liking more or less milk) and 1 Tbsp of chai spice/tea mixture in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Add fresh ginger if you didn’t use ground, reduce heat and let simmer for 10 mins. Remove from heat and strain chai through a fine strainer into your coffee mug, add sweetener to your liking and enjoy.

Nighty Night Rasayana Milk

Soft boiled milk is extremely rich in Ojas building nutrients. In Ayurveda, the key to our health is building and maintaining Ojas or the vital essence of our constitution. I like to think of Ojas as all the things in our body, mind and spirit that keep us young and vital. Examples are, Sinovial fluid in the joints, collagen in the skin, breast milk and reproductive fluids that carry, create and sustain life in the early years of a baby’s development. I also liken it to serotonin in the brain, endorphins that bring the rush of please to our being. Ojas can be nourished and even built by engaging in pleasurable activities, reducing stress and of course eating Ojas building foods. Some examples of these foods include, Ghee (clarified butter), Honey, Soft Boiled Whole Milk (ideally raw cow’s milk), Saffron spice and dates to name a few. This is a nourishing drink that I have given to my kids before bed to help promote healthy sleep.

RECIPE

• 1/2 C Whole Milk (soft boiled for at least 3 minutes), Substitute Almond or Coconut milk

• 1/2 C Filtered Water

• 1Tbsp of Ghee

• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp of Cardamon

• 1/4 tsp of Turmeric

• Pinch of Nutmeg

• PInch of Saffron

• 1 tsp of honey

Mix all ingredients (except honey) in a small saucepan and bring to a light boil for 3 minutes. Stir in honey and let cool before sipping.

Ojas Rasayana

This nourishing drink is great for a bedtime drink or as a kickstarter in the morning. Rasayana in Ayurvedic medicine means lengthening lifespan. Rasa means essence and Ayana means path. This drink has many Ojas building elements and can be watered down for a lighter version or eliminate milk entirely.

RECIPE

• 10 Almonds, soaked 8 hrs

• 1 cup whole milk (substitute almond or rice milk of omit altogether)

• 2 tsp. ghee

• 4-5 dates, preferably medjool

• 8 black peppercorns

• 1/2 tsp each of cardamom, cinnamon

• A pinch each of cumin, turmeric, nutmeg

Drain water from soaking almonds. Remove and discard skins of the 10 almonds. Add boiling water and liquefy all the ingredients in a blender. If using milk as the liquid, combine all the other blended ingredients with the milk in a saucepan and heat to a gentle boil.