What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda, often called the "science of life," is an ancient system of holistic healing that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. Rooted in nature and balance, Ayurveda focuses on promoting health and well-being by harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit. But what exactly is Ayurveda, and how can it benefit you? Let’s dive in.
Compassion: March 2025 Theme of the Month
Here in Wisconsin, we’ve had a few glimpses of Spring these past few weeks. Every time the weather hits above 40°F; or I notice rain on my windshield; or hear the birds chirping in the morning, I get a little flutter in my chest - warmer days are on their way! While I have to be just a little bit more patient for full-on Spring weather, I’m starting to notice the seasonal shift in other ways, too: my calendar is filling up, I’m craving different foods, I have to clean muddy dog paws more often…
With these shifts, I sometimes notice myself feeling frustrated with my busier schedule, changing my cooking routines, and taking extra time for my doggos. Even though these are experiences I generally enjoy, my mind gets a bit jumbled when I’m making these habit changes, regardless of how inconsequential they are in the grand scheme of things. Instead of hooking into my frustrations, I’ve been trying to practice more Compassion towards myself and other beings….
Riding the Wave: February 2025 Theme of the Month
Ever feel bewildered by the feeling “is it over now?” And while I’m not referring to the bonus track of Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) album, feelings of “oh no,” “not again” and “is this real life?!” have been playing through my mind like a catchy pop song lately. It’s not merely the current state of the world - it’s also the everyday consequences of being human: illness, grief, anxiety, frustration. Some days I feel comforted knowing all things must pass, that I can breathe through discomfort. And some days, I want to turn my attention away from sticky and heavy feelings, turn the music up loud, or binge a show on Netflix. Those are the days I am reminded of Riding the Wave.
I first came across this metaphor during my Ayurveda Health Counselor training at…
Tejas - Inner Radiance: January 2025 Theme of the Month
In the cold, dark month of January, I often long for my fireplace stacked with wood burning away, warming my home, filling the atmosphere with the scent of sweet smoke and the sound of crackling fire. The warmth of a fire brings me so much comfort in this cold, winter-y season - both physically and emotionally. It reminds me that I have the resources to balance the effects our natural environment has on my body and mind - and it reminds me that there are warmer days ahead.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about inner, emotional warmth - how to cultivate my inner fire, my inner radiance. In Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, there is a term called Tejas [tay-juhs]…
Presence: December 2024 Theme of the Month
Yesterday evening I finished a 30 hour Restorative Yoga Training led by Judith Hanson Lasater in New Orleans. One morning during the training, Judith spoke about Presence. I chose Presence as Moonflower’s December theme of the month a couple weeks ago; so when Judith brought up this topic, I thought to myself - how auspicious! And then I thought, maybe I’ll find some material for the newsletter! And, in an unexpected way, I most certainly did.