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Friday Feb. 3 – Highland Bodyworks, Georgia VT – More healthy tips for Winter

See Facebook Event here:

Friday February 3, 6-7 p.m.

Highland Bodyworks, 1193 Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7 South), just off exit 18

Ayurveda is an ancient and complex healing science that has its roots in India. Ayurveda can be used to treat chronic health conditions, though much of its grace lies in preventative medicine. Learn how the 5 elements of Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth manifest in both… the environment and your diet and lifestyle, and how you can stay in balance to feel vibrant in the midst of winter. Walk away with tips (and recipes!) you can really use to stay healthy.

To pre-register for the class, call or email Jackie (802) 999-9985 or highlandbodyworks@hotmail.com
www.highlandbodyworksvt.com

Suggested donation is $13

Adena will be offering Ayurvedic Consultations Saturday February 25th at Highland Bodyworks. Call Highland Bodyworks to schedule. If you have any questions about the talk, contact Adena here.

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Cream of Greens Soup

A great way to get your greens ~ my new favorite recipe adapted from “The Ayurvedic Cookbook,” by Amadea Morningstar

Photo from Sassandveracity.com
Photo from Sassandveracity.com

1 whole bunch of greens – kale, chard, hardy spinach or a mix
2 TB ghee or sunflower oil, olive would be ok, too
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp curry powder (not spicy)
1 tsp ground coriander, cumin, fennel blend (optional)
1/2 small onion chopped
1/2 c sliced fresh mushrooms (optional)
2 TB barley or wheat flour (optional)
1 to 2 cups of milk (less if you’re not using the mushrooms) or a can of coconut milk
1 tsp salt
black pepper

Wash greens thoroughly, chop and steam them or boil for 3-4 minutes until tender.  Remove form heat.  In a separate pan, saute mustard seeds in oil until they pop, then add the chopped onion and sliced mushrooms.  Saute until the onions are relatively clear, and then add the other spices and stir.  Stir in the flour (just adds thickness) then slowly pour in the milk, stirring.  I then add the greens to the pot for a minute, then blend the whole thing for a minute to make it nice and creamy!

Serve with fresh bread: I make chapatis – they are literally just wheat flour with enough water to barely bind, then pat or roll them into a small circle and put them in a hot, ungreased pan for 2 minutes on each side.  Slather with butter or ghee……YUM.

**With cow’s milk balancing for Vata and Pitta, use coconut milk for an even more cooling effect for Pitta.  OK for Kapha too, because greens are bitter and astringent.  To better balance Kapha use soy or goat’s milk.

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Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding the Disease through Western Medicine and Ayurveda

Written by Adena Harford, December 2011

Some rights reserved by Anthony Mattox
Some rights reserved by Anthony Mattox

What is the conventional understanding of Multiple Sclerosis?  What is the cause?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS).  MS manifests when the myelin sheath created by the oligodendrocyte cells (cells which support neurons)  along the axon of a neuron is damaged.  MS can only effect oligodendrocytes, not Schwann cells.  This means MS only effects the central nervous system not the peripheral nervous system.  A damaged area along the axon is called an ‘MS plaque.’  When the myelin sheath is damaged, depolarization is slowed down or even stopped along the axon, and nervous system impulses can not be transmitted correctly.  The demyelination occurs in different places throughout the body in different patients, and symptoms often come in episodes called ‘attacks.’  Often symptoms can improve partially or completely, but then they may reoccur later in another attack.

Continue reading Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding the Disease through Western Medicine and Ayurveda

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Staying Healthy and Vibrant in Winter with Ayurveda – BYCwinter – Jan 7, 2012


Staying Healthy and Vibrant in Winter with Ayurveda: a lunch time talk at the Burlington Yoga Conference – Winter.

January 7th, 2012, 12-1:30 p.m. – The Davis Center, UVM – Burlington, Vermont

Ayurveda is an ancient and complex healing science that has its roots in India.  Ayurveda can be used to treat chronic health conditions, though much of its grace lies in preventative medicine.  Learn how the 5 elements of Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth manifest in both the environment and your diet and lifestyle, and how you can stay in balance to feel vibrant in the midst of winter.