Essential Oils for Your Body Type

New to essential oils? You may be wondering where to begin. I always tell people to think of Christmas: start with smells that bring you “comfort and joy!”

Smells are powerful. They can transform you– taking you to a memory from the past, helping you relax, and invigorating your senses. That’s because essential oils stimulate the limbic system (the part of your brain that controls emotions and memories.) Smells can affect your mood, helping you to feel energized or more relaxed. In Ayurveda, oils can be used to help balance our natural constitution (or doshas.)

Vata doshas: take a look at earthy, woodsy notes like cinnamon, patchouli, orange, geranium, myrrh, and sandalwood.
Pitta doshas: consider mints like peppermint, spearmint, and wintergreen. For floral notes, consider trying Ylang Ylang, gardenia, and jasmine.
Kapha doshas: introduce yourself to ginger, clove, juniper, angelica, or marjoram. When my kapha is low, I enjoy a blend of eucalyptus and tea tree.

Always consult with your health care providers before beginning any new healthcare regimen, including the use of essential oils. The above is a personal opinion and should not be a substitute for professional medical advice.

The Health Benefits of Apples

In ayurveda, we eat seasonally. Nothing says autumn like pumpkins… or is it apples? Throughout the month of September, I am offering you ways to incorporate these two ayurvedic powerhouses into your menu. Let’s start with apples.

Apples contain Vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants like quercetin, catechin, and chlorogenic acid that are good for your brain and immune health. Raw apples help clean your teeth, tongue, and gums. They are rich in fiber and can aid in regularity. They are relatively low in calories (around 50 calories for a small apple) and their natural sugars can give you energy.

The cooling qualities of red apples pacify Pitta doshas, and the tart qualities of granny Smith apples are cleansing for Kapha doshas. But apples don’t agree with everyone; they can aggravate Vata doshas. If you’re a Vata type who longs for apples, consider cooking them down and adding a little cinnamon.

Whether you’re on team pumpkin or team apple, we’ve got you covered. Join our mailing list to receive healthy recipes featuring apples and pumpkin each week in the month of September.

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What is a Dosha?

In the world of Ayurveda, a person’s dosha encompasses their personal constitution– mentally and physically. Each dosha is directly related to a person’s preferences and aversions, their personality, the seasons, the elements, and more.

There are 3 doshas: kapha, pitta, and vata. One of the 3 doshas will be dominant in your life– even if only slightly. Our goal is to keep them in balance, and when they are out of balance we can usually tell. For instance, a balanced pitta is loyal, nurturing, and forgiving. But an unbridled pitta can lead a person to feel less secure, controlling, or insensitive.

Knowing your dosha is just one of the many ways that you can nurture self-compassion. Through crosswork yoga, you can equip yourself to become more mindful of where your dosha is and how to navigate back toward sattva, or balance.