One of the more interesting Kati Bastis I've done

This client had surgery to replace missing bone around vertebrate in her lower back.  The took bone marrow from her illiac crest. I have treated this client with three different basti treatments and the results have been very interesting.  In the first treatment we used narayana oil in one basti over the vertebrate.  The client was pleased with the results stating that sensation had returned down her leg.  She asked that next time we widen the basti to include the illaic crest.

We repeated the treatment, widening the basti to include the vertebrate and illiac crest.  The results were not good.  The client reported feeling inflammation and pain in the area of the illac crest.  The narayana oil was to “heating” for the area of inflammation and provoked it.

During our last treatment we placed two bastis on the back and used two different oils.  In the lower back we used narayana oil, and over the illac crest we used a more cooling oil of brahmi oil.  The client reported good results.

I will be performing a series of treatments on this client in the spring and would like to use keesharbala oil for the area over the illiac crest.

Narayana oil in the large basti and brahmi in the smaller

Sadhana is a Sanskrit term that means “spiritual practice,” or a “means of accomplishing something.” It includes a myriad of disciplines in the Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh systems that are followed in order to achieve a specific objective. Sadhana is a personal effort and tool used to achieve an individual purpose. The objective can be anything from more God-Realization to a better balance with food intake. The result of Sadhana fosters internal connection, calmness and peace while increasing the ability to focus the self more efficiently toward desired goals.

Sadhana requires a commitment. Yogis on the Kundalini path often use Sadhanas that last 40 days or more, that involve practices done on a daily basis to foster a specific change in mind. This is because habits are made or broken after an action is repeated daily for at least this time. Sri Swamini Mayatitananda, highly esteemed Ayurvedic practitioner and teacher, often uses prescribed Sadhanas to foster a better relationship with food. Often these Sadhanas include prayer and singing while cooking, so that the eater really begins to understand that there is an actual relationship we have with the things we consume.

Sadhanas can be made or given. We can go to teachers, guides, or health experts to design a set of daily commitments to help foster a change. Or, we can look at our lives and see where we can accentuate these changes ourselves. Regardless, the practice must encourage settling the mind, introspection, calmness, and self-connection. Often, it is less important that what the activity is than the intention behind it. Running, cooking, cleaning, studying and even work can be used as a Sadhana; as long as it encourages growth, improvement and a greater sense of self. Swami Vivekananda said in light of Sadhana:

“Act now. Live now. Know now. Realize now. Be happy now.

Every death is a reminder. Every bell that rings says, “The end is near.” Every day robs off from you one part of your precious life. Therefore, you should be very earnest in plunging yourself in constant Sadhana.

Never fall a victim to fruitless regret. Today is the best day. Today is the day of your new birth. Start Sadhana now. With folded palms, bid good-bye to past mistakes and faults. You have learnt your lessons. March forward now with new hope, determination, and vigilance.

Waver not. Fear not. Doubt not. Do something substantial in the path of Sadhana instead of wasting your time in idle pursuits and lethargy. You have infinite strength within you. There is a vast reservoir of power within you. Therefore, do not lose heart. Obstacles are stepping-stones to success. They will develop your will. Do not allow yourself to be crushed by them. Defects remind you of perfection. Sin reminds you of virtue. Chose the positive path.

If you think, “I will take a bath when all the waves of the sea subside”, this is not possible. The waves will never subside and you will never take a bath. Even so, if you think, “I will start spiritual Sadhana or meditation when all my cares, worries and anxieties cease, when all my sons are fixed up in life, when I have ample leisure after retirement”, this is not possible. You will not be able to sit even for half an hour when you become old. You will have no strength to do any rigorous Tapas when you are in advanced senility.

You must start vigorous spiritual practices when you are young, whatever your conditions, circumstances and environments may be. Then only you will reap a rich spiritual harvest when you become old. You will enjoy the everlasting peace of the Eternal.” Swami Vivekananda.

Some examples of possible Sadhanas:

Mindfulness Eating Sadhanas

Every morning for breakfast, commit to spend 15 minutes eating in silence for the course of 8, 24, 32, or 40 days. That means: no t.v., talking, radio, reading or writing.

Concentrate on the textures, tastes, and smells of your food.

Give a prayer of blessing before you eat.

Feel your hunger.

Feel your fullness.

Express gratitude.

Prayer/Meditation Sadhanas

Practice a prayer, chant or meditation from your spiritual or religious understanding. Use the same technique every day for 40 days. Notice if there are any changes or shifts in your consciousness at the fulfillment of this commitment.

Enhancing a Craft Sadhana

Every day practice a craft you wish to improve. Set the amount of time for practicing (can be as little as 15 minutes) as well as the amount of days (40 is best).

Hi Everyone,

I will be heading to India for five weeks in January to receive a 21 day course of traditional panchakarma treatment in a small village in southern India which I will be documenting via blog and youtube.  I will also be touring several panchakarma centers in India, interviewing Ayurvedic doctors, and researching herb, tea and spice plantations. I am going to try my best to share what I’m learning with you while I’m gone, which may or may not always be possible depending on the technical capabilities of where ever I am.  

If you want to be updated please subscribe to my newsletter, and youtube account http://www.youtube.com/vritti17 I think it will be easier for me to post video blogs via youtube, but I’m not sure yet. 

If you would like to schedule an appointment with me before I leave, please contact me directly 312-929-9007.  I foresee the next month getting very busy and I’m opening up more hours, if you want to get in, please schedule now.  

I’m offering a 15% discount on initial and follow-up consults as a holiday gift to you, as well as discount on Abhyanga Shirodhara treatments.  These are all client faves, so it’s a good deal for you.

If you’d like to schedule with me while I am gone (Jan 11th-Feb 20th) PLEASE CALL Soulistic Studio if you live in Chicago 312-226-7685  www.soulisticstudiospa.com OR North Suburban Wellness if you are in the northern suburbs 847-266-8000 www.nswellness.com 

Scheduling ahead will be a good idea, as clients are booking panchakarma treatments/programs with me during the spring time already.

In Service,

Monica

I just returned from a workshop on Ayurveda in Pennsylvania with a dear friend of mine. We decided we wanted to visit a few places on the way and so we drove. The ride was beautiful, and we were able to hike, and refuel on some soma from the moon and prana from the air, trees, and grass. I hadn’t been on a rode trip like that in some time. Over all, we had a blast!

We made a terrible mistake on the way out there though. We did not pack any food! Without thinking, we just assumed the convenience we have here in Chicago to get organic, fresh food would be shared across the country. We were terribly wrong.

At about noon we had been in the car for some time already, and we were getting hungry. We talked about how we should’ve packed food, and hopeful we would find something decent, we saw a sign for Panera. When we realized we talked through the exit, we thought there would be something like it in the near future. Unfortunately, it only got worse and worse and worse.

After an hour of stubbornly passing every fast food restaurant off I-80, we got off the expressway to scope out a small town in Ohio. I drove 10 minutes each way down the main road horrified by what I saw. Every fast food establishment known to mankind laid out before our eyes: Burger King, Park & Eat, Long John Silvers, Arbys, A&W, Subway, McDonalds, Wendy’s! The only independently owned restaurant we were able to find was a gyros joint and of course that wasn’t going to help. Can you imagine if this were the selection your community was faced with every day? While it is up to us as individuals to make good choices for our self and family, it is also our responsibility to care for those in our community. Seeing obese 10, 11 and 12 year olds should not be the norm as it seems to be in small town America.

Back on the expressway, and well into Pennsylvania we found a cute little Italian restaurant where we ordered some roasted vegetables, soup, and fresh mozzarella salad with homemade bread. It was 2:00 at this time and we were both crazed with hunger. This is a terrible thing to do in Ayurveda because it weakens the mind, distorts blood sugar levels and enhances cravings. After a walk, we sealed the deal with some locally made chocolate dipped strawberries. The chocolatiers were extremely kind, and we could tell their goods were made with pure love.

I can say, that I definitely have more empathy for my clients and friends who spend a lot of time on the road and are trying to live a balanced lifestyle. America can make it difficult. Especially in smaller towns where local economies have been crushed by corporate giants and local fares are virtually non-existent.

To make traveling easier, I thought of this list while wishing I had heeded to it somewhere in Ohio:

1. When possible pack food!

2. Bring fruits like pears, apples, bananas, raisins, dates and nuts.

3. Try to eat at regular times.

4. If traveling for extended periods eat at local restaurants where foods have a higher chance of being prepared freshly and handled with more love. Even if the food isn’t our idea of perfection, at least it will be enlivened with more prana and life, than fast food burgers and fries.

5. Whenever possible support the local economy. Choose the local diner over Perkins or other fast food chain establishments.

 6. Remember to never eat while condemning what you consume. If you do decide to get a burger, fries and coke, bless it with thanks and enjoy! We also consume our thoughts when we eat, so choose positivity over self-condemnation or guilt. If negative thinking is to overwhelming to control, toss the burger and choose something else all together. 

To Your Safe Travels,

 Monica

There are several simple steps that anyone can do to lose weight. The following steps, if done daily, will help you to feel better in one week, and will help you lose several pounds each month. This will give you more energy and confidence to proceed further with other Ayurvedic therapies. Begin by doing the following: – Sit down when you eat; never eat while walking or standing as it takes away energy (prana ) from your digestive system. – Do not read or watch TV while eating; this also takes energy (prana) from your digestion.

1. Eat only when your stomach is empty, usually four hours after you have eaten the previous meal. This allows the previous meal to be fully digested;
2. Do not take the next bite of food until the previous one is swallowed.
3. Wait five minutes before taking another serving of food; usually you will not be hungry after waiting a few minutes.
4. Eat whole fresh foods with abundant prana
5. Eat less.
6. Enjoy what you eat! Eating is a pleasurable action; prepare your food with love and enjoy eating it. Read more …

Ayurveda believes in ‘five great elements’ (Devanāgarī: पंचतत्व‌; earth, water, fire, air and space) forming the universe, including the human body. Chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, and semen are believed to be the seven primary constituent elements (Devanāgarī: सप्तधातु) of the body. Ayurveda stresses a balance of three substances: wind/spirit/air, phlegm, and bile, each representing divine forces. According to Ayurvedic beliefs, the doctrine of these three Doshas (Devanāgarī: त्रिदॊश्)—vata (wind/spirit/air), pitta (bile) and kapha (phlegm)—is important. Traditional beliefs hold that humans possess a unique constellation of Doshas. In Ayurveda, the human body has 20 Guna (Devanāgarī: गुन, meaning quality). Surgery and surgical instruments are employed. It is believed that building a healthy metabolic system, attaining good digestion, and proper excretion leads to vitality. Ayurveda also focuses on exercise, yoga, meditation, and massage.

Read more …