Wednesday, June 15, 2016

10 Ways to Harvest the Summer

by: Melissa Carver, Ph.D.

The warmth of the summer sun can have a revitalizing effect on you, particularly after a long winter and rainy spring season. With the summer season just days away, you might already be daydreaming about what you want to do.
Perhaps a vacation or a summer cookout is on your list. There are many more ways to take advantage of what the summer season has to offer. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, try one—or all—of these healthy, life-enriching activities to reap the benefits of summer.

Summer Solstice

This year, make a special effort to celebrate the summer solstice to give thanks to the sun and what it provides.
The summer solstice, which has been celebrated by humans for thousands of years, is the first day of summer and falls between June 20 and June 22. The exact date and time varies each year along with your particular geographical location. A good source to find out your exact date is the Farmers Almanac.
The word solstice means to stand still. On this day, take a little time to stand still too. Meditate, relax, and think about how you plan to get the most out of summer this year.

Soak up the Sun

Humans need Vitamin D; and the best source for it, is the sun.
Your Vitamin D levels may have dropped during winter and spring, particularly if you live in an area that experiences extended days of cloud cover, rain, fog, and snow. Those who live in sunnier locale aren’t immune to low Vitamin D levels either. If your job is in an office, you may also need a boost.
Getting a shot of Vitamin D is easy: head outside. Keep in mind, that your skin type will dictate how much sun you need. This doesn’t mean basking in the sun for hours without sunblock is a good idea either. Too much exposure can lead to sunburn and skin damage.
Talk to your doctor about the appropriate amount of sun exposure if you’re taking any medication that might make your skin sensitive to ultraviolet light.
The Vitamin D Council is another resource that can help you determine how to safely get the Vitamin D you need.

Observe Nature

Observance and awareness brings us closer to gratitude. It also brings us closer to self. When we become more self-aware, we can develop new intentions by observing at a deeper level than before.
Observe your surroundings the next time you’re outside for a walk, run, or even while gardening or mowing the lawn. Examine how the sun and warmer temperatures have changed the landscape. Take note of how plants and animals have changed. Do the clouds look different in summer versus winter? What direction do the plants grow?
Even if you’re more aware than others, try to take a deeper view. For instance, get down on the ground and observe an ant colony.

Eat Fresh

You may eat clean, but do you eat fresh? Eating fresh, seasonal foods is a challenge in winter. Take advantage of the fresh fruits and vegetables that are harvested during summer.
The fresher the food, the more packed it is with nutrients. For the best results, try planting and growing your own vegetables and fruits. Pick them and eat them right off the vine for the most nutrient-rich treats.
If you haven’t started a garden, scout out your local farmer’s market. Ask the farmers at the stand if pesticides or chemicals are used. The “organic” designation requires an evaluation and a hefty fee that some farmers can’t afford. So if you ask “is it organic?” They may respond with “it is no chemical.”
Try these summer-friendly salad recipes that take advantage of the colorful veggies, flavorful herbs, and vitamin-packed fruits of the season.

Sun Salutations

If you are new to yoga, there is no better place to start than Sun Salutations. Sun Salutations are a physical, mental, and spiritual way to unify with the sun.
If you are a yogi, consider incorporating Sun Salutations more frequently during the summer months.
This weekend, head outside with this handy easy-to-print Sun Salutations guide written by Teresa Long, director of the Chopra Center Certification Program. The one-page article has pictures to help you remember every pose in this sequence.

Retreat

Summer is the perfect time to travel. This year, try a yoga or meditation retreat.
A retreat can help you grow emotionally and spiritually. And you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people. You can take what you’ve learned at the retreat and work on making progress throughout the fall and winter seasons.
Check out the Chopra Center’s meditation and yoga retreat this July.

Stargazing

The stars have shifted, the sky is clear, and you should be sitting under it!
If you live in the city, take a drive into the country at least one time this summer. The stars and moon are visual reminders of how massive the universe is.
Looking up at a star-filled sky is a natural depiction of how light cannot exist without the darkness. It can help you see that your troubles might actually have purpose.
The night also has another benefit, the feminine energy of the moon. In most ancient cultures, the moon represents the feminine energy in our solar system, the sun being the masculine. With more hours of sunlight in the summer months, being out in the moon light contributes to our balance of these two energies.

Masculine Energy

We all have both female and male qualities and energy, balancing these two forces takes awareness. The sun is masculine energy, while the moon represents the feminine side. Basking in the sun this summer can help you tap into your masculine energy.
Whether you are male or female, set aside some time to journal and reflect upon your personal masculine energy.

What comes natural?
What do you force based upon situations?
Do you feel that any masculine trait needs some balancing attention? This could be increasing or decreasing.
How does the sun provide lessons in this particular topic?
What is the sun’s natural state of being?

Harvesting your masculine side can guide you into a higher state of consciousness.

Water Therapy

The warmth of summer provides an opportunity for a little water therapy. That could mean playing in the rain or taking a dip in a local river, creek, lake, or backyard pool.
Water is symbolic of nurture and purification. This season, focus for a moment on what you would like to release while splashing in some H20. Imagine the troubles rolling off you with the drops. In relaxing moments in water, visualize the bright white light we often see sparkling on water when the sun hits it.
Float in one of nature’s most valuable resources and allow this light to nurture all aspects of your being.

Keeping Cool

From a Doshic prospective, summer is a Pitta time of year. Keeping cool can help you control your health as well as mood swings and anger. Try these tips to cool the fire.

Although the sun is healthy, it requires moderation.
Eat some of those fresh garden foods such as watermelon and cucumber to stabilize a hot body.
Reduce or avoid spicy foods this time of year.
Carry a spray bottle of water when outdoors or long road trips. A spritz on the skin can be refreshing.

Seasons transition effortlessly one unto the next. Strive to flow with them as much as possible to help create a oneness with all that is around you and reduce your internal and external conflicts.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

10 Ways to Harvest the Summer

by: Melissa Carver, Ph.D.

Summer Solstice

Soak up the Sun

Observe Nature

Eat Fresh

Sun Salutations

Retreat

Stargazing

Masculine Energy

What comes natural?
What do you force based upon situations?
Do you feel that any masculine trait needs some balancing attention? This could be increasing or decreasing.
How does the sun provide lessons in this particular topic?
What is the sun’s natural state of being?

Harvesting your masculine side can guide you into a higher state of consciousness.

Water Therapy

Keeping Cool

From a Doshic prospective, summer is a Pitta time of year. Keeping cool can help you control your health as well as mood swings and anger. Try these tips to cool the fire.

Although the sun is healthy, it requires moderation.
Eat some of those fresh garden foods such as watermelon and cucumber to stabilize a hot body.
Reduce or avoid spicy foods this time of year.
Carry a spray bottle of water when outdoors or long road trips. A spritz on the skin can be refreshing.

Seasons transition effortlessly one unto the next. Strive to flow with them as much as possible to help create a oneness with all that is around you and reduce your internal and external conflicts.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Environmental Detox: Cleaning Product Safety

by: Valerie Sjoberg, L.Ac.

You may have a clean home with shiny countertops and fragrant air—but, if you use standard cleaning products, at what cost? The chemicals you find in average household cleaning products are nothing to smirk at. In 2014, poison control centers in the United States served 2.2 million people who were exposed to dangerous chemicals—and household cleaners tied as the second leading type of exposure. In addition to acute poisoning, chronic exposure to chemicals in cleaning products can include the following:

Asthma and other respiratory issues
Cancer
Allergies
Reproductive and developmental problems

Product Safety: What to Look For

There are many safe, natural cleaning agents (such as those listed the following section) that can be cheap and effective. But sometimes they might not be quite as strong as you need them to be, or not quite as convenient as picking up a cleaning product at the store. If you need to buy a cleaning product, you can potentially determine its safety by looking it up through the Environmental Working Group, which rates the safety of more than 2,500 products. You can also pay attention to the labels. Unfortunately, labels are often vague; manufacturers are not required by law to disclose the ingredients. But you can ask yourself the following four questions to be as safe as possible.

1. Does the label say Warning or Danger? Danger is considered more harmful than Warning. Some products are safe enough to not require either of these labels.

2. Are there instructions on how to use the product? Be sure to follow them. Labels that say things like “may cause skin irritation” or “vapors harmful” should be taken seriously—wear gloves when handling and ventilate your home (opening the windows, if at all possible) to help reduce harmful vapors.

3. Are the claims specific? Labels like Biodegradable, Natural, or Non-Toxic are not regulated and don’t really mean anything—they are open for interpretation. In addition, Organic doesn’t necessarily mean safe; there are organic chemical substances that can release toxins and cause health issues. Look for more-specific claims, such as “biodegradable within 10 days” or “no phosphate.”

4. Are ingredients listed? If so, select the plant-based, rather than petroleum-based, product.

5 Natural, Must-Have Cleaning Agents in Your Cupboard

If you don’t want to bother with labels and research, and want to be sure your cleaning products are completely natural, try the following natural agents the next time a countertop or floor needs to be cleaned. Tip: If you want to get rid of a smell, or add a bit of fragrance to your home, try adding a few drops of essential oil to the cleaning agent.

1. Baking soda: Absorbs odor and serves as an abrasive. To increase abrasion, add a bit of salt. Can be used to scrub sinks, pots, and pans.

2. Washing soda: Removes stains and oven grease.

3. White distilled vinegar: Cleans glass and removes soap scum and grease.

4. Hydrogen peroxide: Disinfects surfaces and can whiten clothes.

5. Castile soap: Mop floors, wash laundry, and clean countertops.

With these alternatives to standard, toxic cleaning products, you can still have shiny countertops and a fragrant home—without the chemical exposure and potential threat to your health.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

5 Kid Friendly Ayurvedic Practices

5 Kid-Friendly Ayurvedic Practices For A Healthy Summer

by Dr. Vrinda Devani

The time of year where kids are counting down the days is just around the corner—school’s almost over! And while summer is often filled with fun and leisure for kids, it can also be a time for indulgence in junk foods, late nights, and activities that may create significant imbalances. This can make the transition back to school much more dreaded and difficult.
Thankfully, there is a way to strike a balance, and allow your kids to enjoy the summer and make those lasting childhood memories, while still maintaining health. In fact, summer is a wonderful opportunity to instill positive habits that will last through the school year.

I recommend starting with these five simple practices rooted in the ancient science of Ayurveda, a form of holistic medicine and living with origins in ancient India:

1. Create a daily routine.

No, I don't mean having every minute of the day scheduled. We want to allow for spontaneity and freedom, which nurtures creativity and fun for our children. But having even just three practices that your kids do every day will help keep them balanced and grounded.
In Ayurveda, the tradition of dinacharya, or daily routine, is one of the most powerful tools for improving overall health and well-being.

So consider a set wake time and sleep time for most days, although it can be later than during the school year. Follow this with a morning routine like a yoga practice, and a fun but nutritious and leisurely breakfast. This will set the tone for the day. Or how about winding down in the evening with some quiet reading time?

Have your children choose three—any three—practices that outline their balanced but ideal summer day.

2. Teach your kids a mindfulness technique like meditation.

Your kids finally have some extra time on their hands—and what better way to occupy it than to instill mindfulness? Some easy techniques to teach children: So Hum meditation, or simple breathing practices (pranayama) like Nadi Shodhana. Try it for just five minutes. The centeredness your kids gain from this practice will be carried with them through the school year.

3. Encourage daily outside exercise.

If possible, summer is the time to play outdoors and be active. Far too often, because of a lack of options or encouragement, children spend their summers in front of the TV or in movie theaters. There's nothing wrong in a little screentime, but it’s all about balance.
I grew up doing yoga every morning (I was taught to do twelve sun salutations, or Surya Namaskar daily). If your child prefers a different practice, they can spend time riding their bikes with their friends, swimming in the neighborhood pool, or playing tennis. It doesn’t matter—just make it a regular part of their day.

4. Consider adding in herbs.

Chyawanprash is a classic Ayurvedic formulation that's a rejuvenative and a nourisher. It's also quite tasty and comes in the form of a jam. A spoonful with some milk is a quick and healthy start to the day.
Other Ayurvedic herbs and substances that are used for healthy growth in children include Ashwagandha, Shatavari, and organic clarified butter (ghee). Of course, talk to your pediatrician or health care practitioner before using any herbs with children.

5. Make cooking fun.

I find that younger children love to be in the kitchen, and often times they are more likely to eat something if they are part of the cooking process. It’s like their treat for their accomplishment!
The goal here is not to eat salads all day. Children need healthy forms of fats and building foods. Root vegetables (like baked sweet potato fries), milk shakes made with dates and warming spices like cardamom, or a baked potato with avocado and ghee and some vegetables are great alternatives to fast food hamburgers, chips and soda.
Enjoy the summer with your kids and set them up for a year of health and success!