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The Magic of Oil

Abhyanga is an Ayurvedic treatment you can do for yourself. Like food for your skin, warm oil (sesame, sunflower or coconut) massaged into your body relieves fatigue and rejuvenates the mind and body while lubricating the joints and making the skin soft and supple. This is traditionally performed in the morning to get your circulation moving and remove the toxins that accumulate during the night. However you can also try it in the evening to promote restful sleep. In Sanskrit the word sneha means both “oil” and “love”, Abhyanga is like saturating yourself with love! Let the oil soak in for up to 15 minutes to penetrate the subtle channels, then take a hot bath or shower. The benefits are numerous and include; soft, supple, beautiful skin, tones the muscles, lubricates the joints, slows down aging, nourishes the body, promotes restful sleep, stimulates the systems of the body, enhances […]

Sustainability is Sexy

It’s astounding when you think about how many coffee cups are used each year in the world. In 2010 the US alone threw away 23 billion paper cups. According to one environmental group that is enough to fill over 8,000 olympic sized swimming pools. Even if the cups get recycled there is still a profound impact on the planet; trees are cut down and BTU’s of energy are used both to produce the cups and to recycle them. This is no different for plastic water bottles, shopping bags, and plastic cutlery. Bottled water is expensive, costing consumers 1,000 times more than tap water and is usually no better than what comes right out of the tap! Take a stand by refusing to use throw away cups, water bottles, shopping bags and even eating utensils. Sustainable choices are readily available everywhere and make great gifts! You just have to commit to […]

Edible Grace

There is nothing like a home-cooked meal. That said, some of us just don’t enjoy cooking or we think we are not very good at it. I know that when I “eat in” my body feels better. In addition, when I have made a good meal there is a sense of satisfaction that nourishes more than just my body. For the last several years I have simply fallen out of the habit of cooking for myself. My busy schedule and unusual mealtimes coupled with the fact that it’s just so easy to get really good food in San Francisco, why cook? For the last few weeks I committed to cooking and it’s been wonderful. I feel good, have leftovers for the next day, and most importantly I know where all my food is coming from. Food should nourish us and be our medicine. Jana and Patrick of Shri Cuisine have generously […]

Simplify the Holidays

Why has this season become about buying a lot of stuff? Don’t get me wrong, I believe that having things that make life more easeful and enjoyable is a good thing but we all know that our self-worth and true happiness does not depend on the things we own. Again and again studies show that having more stuff actually lowers our life satisfaction while spending time with friends, loved ones, and in nature increases our day to day pleasure and well-being. The Center for a New American Dream has some great suggestions to simplify the holidays. Here are just a few, but you can see more and take the “Beyond Consumerism Challenge” HERE GIVE THE GIFT OF TIME by creating your own gift card for a service (e.g., babysitting, carwashing, petsitting, chores, making dinner, organizing an outing). GIVE A HANDMADE GIFT like a memoir of cherished memories with that person, a […]

Asana for Lower Back Relief

Is your low back and hips feeling tight from sitting too much, stress, or not getting to yoga class? Try this sequence and bring relief to your body, mind, and spirit. 1. Extended Child’s Pose – 10 breaths 2. Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Dog – 10 breaths – photo 3. Uttanasana – Standing Forward Bend – 10 breaths – photo 4. Twisted lunge 5 breaths – Take A Leap – Pose Two Ardha Hanumanasana – 5 breaths – Take A Leap – Pose Three Twisted Thigh Stretch – 5 breaths – Take A Leap – Pose Four 5. Second side – above 3 poses 6. Pigeon Prep – 5-10 breaths each side – Take A Leap – Pose Five 7. Parsvottanasna 5 breaths – Bending forward over one leg – See below! Parivritta Trikonasana – Revolved Triangle – 5 breaths – photo 8. Second side – above 2 poses […]