Agni Tea Recipe

 

Agni = digestive fire = optimal health = alignment = physically matching vibration. Without Agni (digestive fire) and light, creation would not be possible. Agni allows us to see form, degrees of dark and light and various frequencies of color. When agni is strong, food is digested properly as are all your sensory perceptions. Encouraging your body to release waste and increase agni is a great practice for self care and optimal wellness.

Thie tea is great for loosening of all that mucous we may incur during Fall and Winter, and keep maintaining the excretion of mucous for optimal wellness.

I help my body burn up that mucous from the inside, by drinking tea. A real simple, and delicious tea.

Let's discuss what's in the tea.

Ginger

effective in aiding and alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders

increases the natural fire (agni) in the digestive system

an anti-inflammatory food, helping reduce inflammation, from which many dis-eases begin.

Cinnamon

Anti-microbial purifying the body

Heating to the body, increasing the agni

Anti-inflammatory

Cardamom

Anti-carcinogenic battling all the bad radicals in the body

Anti-inflammatory

Great for digestion, teeth, spasms, it's a must!

Star Anise

Great for PMS, as it has properties akin to Estrogen

Anti-inflammatory

Exporant, opening up the respitory

Ignite the Agni Tea Recipe

2 Cinnamon sticks

3 one inch slices of Ginger

1 Star Anise

3 Cardamom pods or 10 Cardamom seeds

2 cups of Water

Place all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Turn off and let sit for 10 minutes. Strain and add sweetner of choice. I am trying to reduce my sugar intake and didn't add sugar.

Drink often and feel free to add or remove any ingedient that doesn't resonate with you. 

En-Joy!

How To Breathe Properly.

 

How do you know if you breathe properly? 

Have you ever watched a baby breathe? 

When a baby inhales their belly inflates and as they exhale their belly deflates. 

The proper way to breathe is when you inhale, your belly inflates, and as we exhale your belly deflates.

When I first started taking yoga classes, breathing was the toughest part of the class. 

First, I did not know how to breathe properly. Secondly, it hurt my shoulders to take deep breaths. 

I now know that those are signs of a weak respiratory system. Even though I'm a swimmer, my lungs had never gotten a workout in the form of breath exercises. Most people breathe incorrectly, there by not receiving enough oxygen to their brain and nervous system.

The reason my shoulders hurt as I inhaled was due to the fact that I was not taking deep breaths, but rather shallow breaths. My lungs were not accustomed to taking in so much oxygen! 

 A yogic breath has three parts. The first inhale is through the nose, then the deeper inhale into the chest, and finally the deepest inhale into the belly. Anything less then the full, deep breath and you are depleting yourself of oxygen.

The yogic breath is always inhaling through the nose, and exhaling through the nose, using the mouth to exhale when necessary. As you inhale the oxygen hits your olfactory senses and then your nervous system and brain, immediately offering you the space to pause and reflect. 

The biggest shift I noticed in my healing Journey was learning to control and use my breath to empower me and my life. Learning how to control my breath has helped me conquer my monkey mind. Learning how to breathe deeply has allowed me the power to control my mood and emotions. Using my breath I am able to focus my attention where it needs to be.

In an effort to share the pleasure and benefits of Pranayama, I am hosting a pranayama challenge for the month of December. Every Sunday I will be sending you a tutorial on a specific breath exercise, which we will practice for that week. We start December 6th! Tutorials will be a YouTube video, for easy viewing. Finalizing details now - there is still time to join! Find me here!

Check out this breath tutorial- Nadi Shodhana (Alternate nostril breathing).

Namaste

Vata Pacifying Lentil Chili

 

Lentils are a must in my pantry during winter. Easy to prep and make, and soothing to the digestive system. These spices warm up your internal body as you enter the winter season. Let's get to it.

Ingredients - Serves 8

8 cups vegetable broth, divided 

1 medium yellow onion, chopped 

1 large red bell pepper, chopped 

1 carrot, chopped

1 small sweet potato, chopped

5 cloves garlic, finely chopped 

3 - 4 teaspoons chili powder (depends on your preference for heat)

1 (16-ounce) package brown lentils

2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt diced tomatoes 

1 Cinnamon stick

2 Cardamom pods or 1/2 tsp of cardamom powder (optional)

1 tsp. each of Cumin, Ground Ginger, Salt

1/2 tsp. Mustard seeds

Pinch of Black pepper 

3 cups chopped cilantro

Directions

1. Bring 1 cup broth to a simmer in a large pot over medium-high heat. 

2. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook about 8 minutes or until onion is translucent and pepper is tender. 

3. Stir in chili powder, cinnamon stick, cardamon pods (or powder), cumin, ground ginger, salt and mustard seeds and pepper. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. If it gets too thick, add a splash of broth to prevent burning.

4. Add lentils, tomatoes, carrots, sweet potato and remaining 7 cups of broth. 

5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially 

covered, 30 minutes or until lentils are almost tender. 

6. Uncover and cook 10 minutes longer. 

7. Stir in cilantro and serve.

Feel free to add any toppings you'd like. Great for the freezer and leftovers. 

Ayurvedic medicine has a rich history. Originally shared as an oral tradition, Ayurveda was recorded more than 5,000 years ago in Sanskrit, in the four sacred texts called the Vedas: the Rig Veda (3000-2500 BCE), Yajur Veda, Sam Veda, and Atharva Veda (1200-1000 BCE). In Ayurveda, each season is associated with a dosha, or body type.

When Vata is balanced: 

Vata is energetic, strong sense of humanity, adaptable, quick comprehension, easily adaptable, positive spirit, strong healing energy, flexible, true enthusiasm, good in communication, and able to initiate things.

When Vata is aggravated: 

Vata aggravation leading to excess causes debility, emaciation, liking of warmth, tremors, distention, constipation, dizziness, confusion, insomnia, depression, incoherent sleep, sensory disorientation, piercing pain, cracking of joints, dehydration, stiffness, astringent taste in the mouth and dark, or reddish brown discolorations.

Routine is the best way to pacify Vata, followed by pranayam, breath exercises. Focus on warm, spicy, and oily qualities and elements to incorporate during this season. Above all, stay grounded and rooted in this present moment. As Baba Ram Dass says, "Be Here Now or Be Nowehere".

Namaste