BEHIND THE SCENES: THE MAKING OF A BOOK 

I can tell you the exact moment when I decided that I wanted to write a book. It was New Year’s Day of 2010. My family and I were journaling together in our annual dreaming exercise (every new year we revisit the Five Book to massage out our intentions for the year), and in a question asking about long-term dreams, …

Dear Community,

How are you? What a tremendous time we have all been thrust into, the whole world turned upside down overnight. If you’ve been feeling scattered, anxious, overwhelmed – please know, you are not alone. I’m most certainly feeling the effects of such a global shift and the looming sense of uncertainty that lies ahead. Right now, I am choosing to take extra moments of pause, refocus my efforts and show up …

It’s Mother’s Day this weekend, and I wanted to make something special for my mom while we share this holiday together for the first time in a while. We’re both Ayurvedic practitioners and foodies, so we’re often sharing kitchen stories, new product finds or Ayurveda articles with one another. A few years ago, I discovered Lotus Blooming Herbs and fell in love with their Chyawanprash. Their formula is …

Sadhana. The Sanskrit word itself has many translations, but in its simplest definition it means a personal daily practice. For me, it means doing something every day that connects me to my wholeness and moves me beyond my thinking mind. My daily practice provides a moment of suspension, a sacred pause of stillness so I may simply be instead of do, so that I may connect in with the highest truth in my heart, and …

Last month, I traveled out to the Berkshires with Free People to lead our collaborative Fall Ayurveda Awakening Retreat. We focused on mover slower, establishing daily rituals of self-care and eating a nourishing kitchari diet. This sequence I’m sharing today on the FP blog was one we began our retreat with as we arrived to the center, unwinding from work and long days of travel.

As you move …

Last summer, I found myself completely and utterly exhausted. As a yoga teacher with a business based on wellness, you would think I’d have my personal wellness plan figured out all the time. But I’m human, too, and fell into the trap of wanting to achieve more, work harder, play harder.  And in my mind, I was eating all the “right things” and doing all the “right practices”, but …

Abhyanga is the Ayurvedic practice of oil massage, it’s one the essentials in a daily self-care routine. This self-massage technique has a soothing effect for the nervous system, helping to reduce stress and bring grounding to our bodies and minds when over-stimulated. The oil nourishes the skin, penetrates into the muscles and joints, and provides lubrication to the deeper tissues of the body. With the intention to move …

There’s a point in summer where the heat loses its magic and allure. That point usually comes early August for me, with signs of bloodshot eyes, red skin and a little less patience for the people around me. I often say yes to too much, and end up pretty burnt out by the end of September. To avoid the burn out, here are some essential tips to beat the …

In the Healing Yoga series, I share everyday yoga therapy practices to bring balance and depth to your holistic health routine. I believe a great amount of our daily nourishment happens beyond just the food we eat. In Yoga, we use our breath to increase our vital energy and life-force. We direct and strengthen the flow of this energy, prana, through the practice of conscious breathing, pranayama.  Dr. David Frawley reminds us …