It’s been a very long time coming and still even a longer time to come. I’ve been studying about Ayurveda आयुर्वेद since I spent some time in India in 1993. I understand that for most Americans this is a totally bizarre word and concept but once you break it down it is very easy to understand. “Ayus” is the Sanskrit word meaning life and “Veda” is science or knowledge. So, when you put them together it stands for the knowledge/science/way to live a long life. The concept is easy to get but it is a big-heavy-philosophy over 5,000 years old. I want to learn as much as I can about it and apply it to our modern American lifestyle. I’m particularly interested in the cooking side of things but Ayurveda incorporates, yoga, skin care, massage, plant-based healing and so much more. I’ve done my fair share of studying eastern philosophy and I’ve worked as a vegetarian chef but I believe this is going to stretch me; new concepts, words, foods, exercises and values. It’s big, wide, deep and whole. A lifetime journey.
One of the first things to know when you are working from an Ayurvedic framework is to know what makes you, YOU. Everyone has a constitution that is natural to them. We are all unique but Ayurveda helps us break it down so we know how to care for ourselves. The basic principles of Ayurveda are that there are five great elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether) and three main doshas or bodily humors to make up our constitutions. I’m sure to go into these things in more detail but I don’t want to scare folks off. So one of the first helpful things to do is to figure your self out –know your dosha. There are numerous online quizzes to help you figure this out including this one over at the Deepak Chopra Center. I believe there isn’t a substitute for an in-person consultation but I also believe that you can start right now to change your life. I’ve been seen by an Indian homeopathic doctor who told me my dosha. I’m a Kapha-Pitta — a whadda whadda, you say? I know it’s all a little wacky sounding and like I’m going off the deep end but stay with me folks. The bottom line is that I want to live a long time and I want to feel great and help others do the same. I truly believe that I can work towards getting to Ayurveda right here, right now in the heart of Texas.
Melissa’s Kapha Pacifying Tea
2 tsp. fennel seeds
½ teaspoon powdered turmeric
1 large finger of ginger (washed & sliced with peel on)
3 bags of green tea
local honey to taste
Pour boiling water over ingredients and steep of 10 min. I leave the honey out and sweeten each cup as I go or even leave it un-sweetened (gasp!) and warm to room temperature has been great so far but I’m sure I’ll ice it as summer comes on.
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