Despite our greatest intentions (and having the knowledge and tools at our fingertips), we too have struggled at times to make self-care a priority. As a result we have ended up feeling worn-down, stressed-out, disempowered, and less than ourselves.

Sound at all familiar?

We draw upon the ancient principles and practices of Ayurveda and Yoga with the sass and sensibility of the busy, modern-day woman.

These easy-to-follow food routines, Yoga practices, beauty secrets, home remedies, cleanses, and self-care suggestions will bring you radiant health for life. Everything in this book has helped us shine in our own lives. If you too desire…amazing energy, glowing skin, restful sleep, excellent digestion, and a positive outlook…this illuminating Ayurveda and Yoga guidebook is for you!

You can order your copy here!

Melanie Phillips, author of “Living After Loss: A Soulful Guide to Freedom”, offers wisdom on how we can transform the thought patterns and perspectives that perpetuate our suffering. She shares with us the technique of “Theta Healing,” as well as a 4-phase process for creating new neuropathways to develop resiliency. We also discuss Karma, how to connect to Source Energy, and what to do when you feel disconnected. This episode continues Melanie’s no-nonsense, spiritual approach to loss and grief.

… Listen to the podcast on blog.sivanaspirit.com

As humans, we experience loss. Often, these losses go unacknowledged. Whether it’s the loss of a pet, job, relationship or family member, author Melanie Phillips shares that healing after loss is not a linear process. Melanie opens up about her personal journey after the unexpected loss of her partner. She provides tips about how we can enlist the right kind of support when we’re in crisis, and how we can best support others in need. We discuss loss from the perspective of the chakras energy medicine. Learn how to navigate loss, grief or any challenging life situation from a more empowered perspective.

… Listen to the podcast on blog.sivanaspirit.com

Mas and I have known of one another for a while, mostly through similar circles and social media. But what a joy to meet him and connect with him for this interview. He’s such a beautiful soul who embodies the wisdom of the Yogic and Ayurvedic sciences.

Watch the full interview here and experience a guided element meditation from Mas.

Melanie Philips: What first drew you into Yoga? How did you get onto this path?

Mas Vidal: It was really a heart-based search. It came more from the spiritual side. I was really drawn to the mystical aspects of it—meditation, what is the purpose of life, what does true love mean, dharma.

MP: How do you see the sister sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda working together in a practical way for people today?

MV: In my view they are inseparable and, as ancient as Yoga and Ayurveda are, I find they are still the most practical and adaptable systems for the modern age…

… Read the full  post on BanyanBotanicals.com

1. You’re a long time yogi. Did you notice a difference in your practice incorporating Ayurveda?

Yes, I think I really did—mostly because I began to study and incorporate Ayurveda into my daily life and sadhana after getting extremely ill in India. It was an illness that lasted over seven years and inspired me to seek out healing after the doctors told me, “there is nothing we can do for you.”

Ayurveda wasn’t a quick fix; it took time to build up my ojas and return to balance (and I still am vigilant about my self-care practices).  The principles of Ayurveda make sense—returning to living in the flow of our naturalness resonates so deeply with me.

I remember when I began to study Ayurveda…I was often brought to tears of recognition when I was reading the textbooks as I felt the truth and love in the philosophy and the devotion of Mother Nature being channeled through Ayurveda.

I can’t imagine practicing yoga without the intelligence of Ayurveda to support it…

… Read the full  post on ayurvedaplusworld.com

I went through a period of insomnia for a few years after a very traumatic life event so my sleep is one of the most valuable assets in my life.

I try to finish working on the computer or being in front of screens at least an hour before going to bed so that my nervous system has a chance to unwind and adjust before sleep.

Rubbing the soles of my feet with sesame oil before bed is a non-negotiable for me as it really grounds and nourishes me and pacifies any excess vata spinning around in my head. I also like to use an essential oil diffuser in my room with lavender oil or if I’m traveling I will sprinkle a few drops onto my pillow.

Gratitude is how I end my day. I lie in bed and retrace the steps of my day in my mind and give thanks for life.

Q. Do you follow any nighttime ‘food rules’ for good health?

I’m mostly an intuitive eater and follow what my body wants. I make sure I don’t go to bed with food in my tummy but also not on empty either. I’ve found that not having enough food in the evening will aggravate vata and disturb my sleep. It’s a fine balance…

… Read the full  post on theayurvedaexperience.com

Nicolae Tanase: Melanie, what is the meaning of life?

Melanie Phillips: Despite decades of meditation and self-inquiry work, it was after the sudden loss of my partner that I was faced with the harsh reality of asking, “What the hell is the point of all of this?”

No longer shrouded by ashram community or yoga studio sheen, I was utterly alone in grief and pain and the realization that no one could change my situation or ease the agony of loss for me.

Profound loss was the catalyst for the deepest inner inquiry. There was nowhere else I could go but within.

So I did.

I began to shift my perception and reprogram my neural pathways from trauma, shock and grief and mold them into acceptance, gratitude and forgiveness. No easy feat.

I believe we are here to know ourselves as love…

… Read the full  post on excellencereporter.com

Do I let him know that I’m partial to eating something cooked as it’s the middle of winter and my vata will go out of whack if I gnaw on raw veggies and salad all night? Or do I choose to be a polite Canadian, not say anything and then secretly resent him for being so ridiculous to suggest a restaurant that is so un-Ayuvredically appropriate?

At this stage of my life, I’m getting good at being fairly upfront about who I am and what someone can expect if our relationship goes beyond our non-coffee-coffee-date.

So I let him know I would prefer to go somewhere that serves cooked food since it’s so chilly out. If we happen to still like one another in the summer time when raw food is better suited to my digestive fire, then I’ll totally get behind his restaurant suggestion. (I don’t really tell him the second part but just think it in my head)….

… Read the full  post on elephantjournal.com

The further we travel along the path of yoga asanas (postures) we inevitably stumble upon the gem of Ayurveda. The link between these two ancient Vedic sciences are being recognized more through the desire to find balance and stillness within the busyness of our lives.

Ayurveda, the ‘Science of Life,’ is a holistic system of medicine that includes looking at how the body, mind, and emotions are all interconnected and influence our health or, dis-ease. This medical science is over 5000 years old and has its roots in India but the principles are based on nature and are timeless.

Ayurveda enhances our yoga practice by informing the approach we should take that is most aligned with our prakruti—our true nature.
Once we have an understanding of the three doshas, or constitutions in Ayurveda and how the five elements of earth, water, fire, air, and ether exist in all matter, we begin to notice the physical, psychological, and sensory impressions being influenced by these elements. …

… Read the full  post on shophalfmoon.ca

This is a wonderful posture for stretching the hamstrings and backs of the legs, as well as offering length and release to the lower back area. Ayurvedically, this is a great posture to decrease vata (air and ether) as it compresses and massages the home site of vata which is in the colon, making it a good practice for the digestive system, and for reducing gas and bloating.

Standing Forward Fold is a posture of release and letting go. It allows you to see the world from a new perspective and literally surrender your head to your heart as you bow down to the earth.

When held for long periods of time, Standing Forward Fold may feel heating and possibly aggravating to pitta (fire and water).

I like to encourage my students to exhale and relax the head towards the earth and inhale and imagine drawing the prana up from the earth through the soles of the feet, legs, and into the lower back. This intention creates an energetic shift and brings a soothing quality to the nervous system to decrease excess vata …

… Read the full  post on BanyanBotanicals.com

I never knew what people were talking about when they spoke of the ominous winter blues. I grew up in Ontario and winters meant playing in the snow, cross country skiing, figure skating, and lots of hot chocolate with those mini pastel colored marshmallows on top.

My first decade living in Vancouver, British Columbia, seemed devoid of noticing the shift from fall to winter to spring…probably because there isn’t much of one; we essentially live in a rainforest, a mono-season of rain and grey. Over the last ten years, I’ve noticed the effects of this on my body, mind, and spirit. The short dark days of winter, the lack of sunshine, the impenetrable heaviness of people’s attitudes…am I projecting?

Possibly, yes…AND, I work with a lot of clients in my Ayurvedic practice who struggle even more during the winter with depression, anxiety, low immunity, poor digestion, and sleep…

… Read the full  post on BanyanBotanicals.com

Ayurveda provides us with phenomenal guidelines and practices for living in accordance with our own unique nature.

When I began to study Ayurveda, I was taken by its soulful approach. I recall being touched and moved to tears learning that the root cause of all dis-ease is that we’ve forgotten that we are Spirit.

This made so much sense to me. Stress, anxiety, fear, depression, worry—these are all possible states we fall into when we feel disconnected from something larger than ourselves.

A major part of my daily rejuvenation practice is gratitude. When I see things through the lens of appreciation—even when my life doesn’t look exactly the way I think it should—my heart softens and I feel better.

We can’t heal in a state of fear or anger. In fact, when these states are experienced for long periods of time they become depleting and debilitating not only to our mental and emotional bodies, but also physically …

… Read the full  post on banyanbotanicals.com

Summer stokes the inner fire and offers exuberant days at the beach and exciting ocean plunges. But it can also burn you out and leave you craving some quiet time and stillness.

As we shift into the autumn season and vata’s hurried tendency starts to creep in, it’s time to intentionally slow things down. By reflecting on the last few months and honoring yourself with some self-care, you will set a positive trajectory for moving into the next season.

I recommend taking at least a couple of hours for this bathing and journaling ritual experience in order to consciously release the summer and prepare for the crisper, cooler, and shorter days of fall.

Begin with an Ayurvedic self-oil massage (abhyanga). I love the Daily Massage Oil.
Soak in a bath. Add ½ cup baking soda, 1 tablespoon sesame oil and 5 drops lavender essential oil to the bath. Light a candle and reflect on the last few months.
In the bath or afterwards, use these questions as inspiration for your journal …

… Read the full  post on banyanbotanicals.com

I arrived in Pune, India, fresh out of a tumultuous divorce to study Ayurveda with the renowned Dr. Vasant Lad. Looking back, I had totally high vata and pitta—not the ideal state to live in a frenetic, hot, fast paced, loud (did I mention loud) setting.

One night after a full day of observing clients at Dr. Lad’s farm clinic, we fought through rush hour traffic—horns and congestion—for over two hours to reach his city clinic. With no time for dinner, my delicate nervous system began to shatter and my agni (digestive fire) began to combust because I was so hungry, or should I say “hangry.”

The heat and intense energy of India and our schedule had finally broken me down. I was clearly and obviously out of balance, and I had to be carried in a rickshaw back to the hotel where I was living…

… Read the full  post on banyanbotanicals.com

In my twenties, I had a weird fascination with alternative health practices. Ok, I still do, but I’d like to believe I have a teensy bit more integrated and grounded knowledge now, thanks to Ayurveda. In my ignorance, I found myself doing self-recommended fruit fasts, coffee enemas at Thai retreat centers, and vomiting up copious amounts of salt water in ashrams.

Once I discovered Ayurveda I learned about the mysterious panchakarma cleansing process. It sounded like an intense mind-body overhaul that wasn’t for the semi-interested wayfarer. It sounded like work!

It wasn’t possible for me to travel to India at the time and spend months at a panchakarma center, but I was very excited to have a taste of this ancient cleanse, so I went for a week of palliation therapy at Dr. Vasant Lad’s Ayurvedic Institute.

Each morning I was ushered into a tiny room scented with nutmeg essential oil to calm my nervous system before receiving a two-person abhyanga (oil massage)…

… Read the full  post on banyanbotanicals.com

Ayurveda views health and disease as the end result of how we interact with the world, in terms of our beliefs, perceptions, thoughts and feelings, which then ultimately determine our actions. Actions in harmony with our inner nature create health, while those dis-harmonious with our inner nature create disease. Ayurveda is the science of developing greater harmony with our internal and external environments.

Your inner nature is called your constitution or prakruti and is a unique blend of the three doshas: vata (ether + air), pitta (fire + water) and kapha (earth + water). Your constitution was determined at the moment of your conception and is with you your entire life. It determines what is in harmony with your nature and what will cause you to become out of balance, sick and diseased. Knowledge of your constitution is essential to developing optimal health.

Ayurveda assists us in journeying back to optimal health by balancing the five elements in the body and mind through the use of herbs, diet, colors, aromatherapy, lifestyle changes, yoga, and meditation. When we follow diet, food and lifestyle choices that support our unique dosha then we will be healthy and have less of a need to cleanse in any drastic way…

… Read the full  post on gaia.com

For thousands of years the great Yogis and Vaidyas have observed the nature of the mind-body relationship. What they analyzed, understood, and taught was the direct, undeniable, interconnected matrix of our thought process creating either health or dis-ease.
Fast forward approximately 5000 years to today. Here we are in a fast-paced, technologically- driven, goal-oriented, productivity-based society; striving to get ahead, make more money, look younger and feel more relaxed. Stress has an impact on our well being, on our nervous system, blood pressure, and every system of the body. Not to mention, stress also ages us faster and can leave us feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and depressed.

Is there another way? I talk to many people who believe that this is just the way life is. There isn’t much to do about it unless you’re lucky enough to win the lottery or get an upgrade on your DNA.
Let us imagine for just a moment that we are creating the reality that we see, feel, and interact with. Let us suspend our disbelief for a tiny second and imagine that we manifest our life by sending out signals and invitations through the thoughts that we think and feelings that we feel.

… Read the full  post on everydayayurveda.com

Most of our thoughts are habitual and repetitive, they are old programs from the past, running the show. This happens without us even realizing it. We believe we are thinking new thoughts yet we wind up creating the same situations, experiences and circumstances over and over again. It may be a new relationship but over time we realize we’re dating the same guy, or are involved in another altercation with an unfair boss, or have another friend dumping all of their problems on us. Can you relate?

It may feel like life is happening to you, however your experience of life is a reflection of what signals are going out from your own personal generating station (the channel of the mind, manovaha srota). So, take time to observe and take charge! If you want to change anything in your life start by looking within by observing the subtle thoughts, reactions and feelings created from your thinking patterns.

Ask yourself:
1) Is there another perspective or point of view that I could take?
2) How am I contributing to the outcome of a situation (positively or negatively)?
3) What else is possible?
4) What would love do/ say/ think?

Don’t lollygag in a negative rut, as it will only bring you down and down and down. Notice any resistance you may have to thinking or feeling positively about something…

… Read the full  post on healthyayurveda.com

The biggest misconception about meditation practice is that it is bliss.

Years ago, I went to a 10-day silent meditation retreat. Was I ecstatic, levitating, and communing with God? No, it was grueling. My knees hurt, my back ached, and I couldn’t wait for meal times.

What I did learn was how much my ego or personality wasted energy through mindless talk and habitual responses to people. I saw the juxtaposition between being silent and not looking at another human being for 10 days and how connected and loved I felt, opposed to being in the busy city seeing many people and feeling so alone.

Sitting still, we are able to observe the tendencies and craziness of the mind and therefore gain some perspective that our thoughts are, in fact, separate from who we are.

But if we are not our thoughts or even our emotions, then who are we…

… Read the full  post on ayurvedanextdoor.com

Your little rubber yoga mat is like a magnifying glass for what is going on in your mental and emotional bodies and boldly demonstrates how your thoughts are intrinsically connected to your physical body.

The physical aspect of Yoga is the tip of the iceberg, but let us not ignore the depth and immensity of what exists below the surface.

The yoga asanas are designed to keep you healthy by benefiting all of the systems of the body. The nervous system, digestive system, circulatory system, reproductive system and so on, are all strengthened when doing specific practices appropriate for you.

Traditionally, Yoga was passed on one-on-one, from teacher to disciple. The student would take the disciplines or practices, go and do them for a set period of time until they were perfected and ready to “advance” to the next level of awareness. A student may be given a sadhana or spiritual practice to perfect over a number of years before adding anything to it. In our fast-paced, goal-oriented society we want to know we are progressing or achieving when we are investing time into an activity…

… Read the full  post on ayurvedanextdoor.com

A series of serendipitous events landed me in the poorest state of India at the Bihar School of Yoga, the world’s first Yoga University. I had no idea about gurus and certainly wasn’t going to bow down to anyone. Being a self-proclaimed atheist and feminist, I was sure I knew what I was doing and didn’t need help from anyone else, thank you very much.

Like a moth to a flame, I entered ashram life as if it was as natural as the birth of a new day. I loved the simplicity and rigour of constant karma yoga that consumed most of my time at the ashram. I found an odd satisfaction and pleasure cleaning the toilets before dawn, seeing the sunrise everyday for six months, and practicing periods of mouna (silence).

One night after a prophetic dream, I awoke and set off to find the barber that would come to the ashram once a week to shave all of the swamis’ heads. I sat down on the ground and signaled to him. He began to snip away my locks that kissed the middle of my back. Once there was enough of a clear-cut of the forest on my head, he went in skillfully with the blade and shaved my head to the scalp…

… Read the full  post on ayurvedanextdoor.com

Life feels so personal. Me—my—mine! We connect and cling to our thoughts and emotions as though they are real. But how can something be so real when it’s constantly changing? If you are your thoughts, then what were you thinking last Thursday at 2:15 pm?

Sitting down to meditate is to still the body and train ourselves to let go of strong attachments. It’s to release identification with the idea of who think we are, who we “know ourselves to be,” if only for a few minutes.

Gaps between thoughts are where magic and beauty lie. Those are the moments in which we experience peace and safety, in which we are reminded that we are not alone as we struggle through life trying to survive. You do not need to take a lot of time in your day for meditation. Even 5 or 10 minutes as a daily practice will have a profound effect on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being…

… Read the full  post on wanderlust.com

The acceptance of who we are, how we are, is key to the happiness we seek through all of the go-getting. It’s time for a revolution, and we are the ones who must initiate and support the paradigm shift, moving the focus from self-improvement to self-acceptance.

We must put self-care and joy into their rightful place in the driver’s seat, and ask our scared, competitive, and struggling victim self to step back and watch how self-mastery is done.

To do this, here are the top 10 tips for self-mastery and self-love:

1. Say no to people, projects, requests, invites, or demands that are not unbounded yeses!
By aligning your energy with what is true to you, you will conserve energy for the things that really make your heart sing, sans resentment or guilt.

2. Take time to be by yourself every day.
Quietly, silently, and peacefully continue to develop your relationship with yourself, as it is the most important relationship of all…

… Read the full  post on wanderlust.com

Night after night for over six months we would all gather. 500 of us crammed in a room, sitting on the hard, cold, marble floor, chanting in a call and response format. Singing kirtan.

Evening kirtan at the ashram was by far my favorite time of day. After hours of karma yoga (which often consisted of menial tasks, done repetitively) the chanting was a way to channel and release energy and to let go.

One evening an ancient looking swami got up to lead a kirtan. His dhoti (cloth wrapped around his waist) covered his frail structure—underneath, skin and bones. He sat quietly for a moment before beginning to pump the harmonium. Out came his squeaky voice…off key…tone deaf…terrible.

Simultaneously, out of this man’s heart came pure love, crystallized devotion, a lifetime or more of dedication to the Divine that was palpable. This Bhakti—this pure radiant love—filled the room, opened our hearts and inspired a frenzy of ecstatic chanting and dance that seemed to go on forever…

… Read the full  post on wanderlust.com

Your little rubber yoga mat is like a magnifying glass for what is going on in both your mental and emotional body. Your yogic path boldly demonstrates how thoughts are intrinsically connected to the physical body. That is to say: The physical aspect of yoga is the tip of the iceberg. Let us not ignore the depth and immensity of what exists below the surface.

Yoga asanas are designed to keep you healthy by benefiting all of the systems of the body. The nervous system, digestive system, circulatory system, reproductive system—all your systems—are strengthened by specific practices. You can best determine what specific practice is appropriate for you by trying as many as possible, and listening to what resonates with your body and your mind.

Yoga was traditionally passed on individually, from teacher to disciple. The student would take the disciplines, or practices, and and do them for a set period of time until they were perfected and ready to “advance” to the next level of awareness. In our fast-paced, goal-oriented society we want to know we are progressing or achieving when we are investing time into an activity…

… Read the full  post on wanderlust.com

A series of serendipitous events landed me in the poorest state of India at the Bihar School of Yoga, the world’s first “yoga university.” I had no idea about gurus and certainly wasn’t going to bow down to anyone. Being a self-proclaimed atheist and feminist, I was sure I knew what I was doing and didn’t need help from anyone else, thank you very much. Six months there taught me as much about what I didn’t know as augment that which I did.

Like a moth to a flame, I entered ashram life as if it were as natural as the birth of a new day. I loved the simplicity and rigor of constant karma yoga that consumed most of my time at the ashram. I found an odd satisfaction (even pleasure) cleaning the toilets before dawn, seeing the sunrise everyday, and practicing periods of mouna (silence).

One night after a prophetic dream, I awoke and set off to find the barber who came to the ashram once a week to shave all the swamis’ heads. I sat down on the ground and signaled to him. He began to snip away my locks that kissed the middle of my back. Once there was enough of a clear-cut of the forest on my head, he went in skillfully with the blade and shaved my head to the scalp. I was naked…

… Read the full  post on wanderlust.com