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The Real Treasure - October 2009
Dear Friends,
On October 24th and 25th, we will be hosting our Ayurvedic workshop series. Nicole Wilkerson, from New Leaf Ayurveda, will be presenting the workshops at Lotus Garden Meditation Center. We are very excited to have her here!
Nicole has been my Ayurvedic practitioner for over a year and has helped me tremendously. In a very short amount of time, Nicole helped me to understand my "dosha," or body constitution, and how I can best use nature to heal common physical ailments.
Not only does Nicole educate me on what foods and herbs to use as medicine, she cares enough to craft detailed recommendations that I receive via e-mail after each appointment.
Her emails include lifestyle recommendations for the types of food and exercise routines that will provide optimum benefits for my dosha. After following Nicole's recommendations, I feel energized, focused, and productive. I've never experienced a more caring health practitioner.
The Ayurveda workshops offered at Lotus Garden are designed to introduce basic Ayurvedic principles, as well as determine your dosha (body constitution).
The Lotus Garden Ayurveda workshop series offers:
An introduction to Ayurvedic treatments for disease and rejuvenation
Recommendations for general doshas, including lifestyle, foods, herbs and exercise
Simple remedies for common ailments
Delicious recipes for general doshas
Healthy and delicious Ayurvedic refreshments
Attend Lotus Garden's Ayurveda workshop series to learn new tools to help you move toward better health and wellness.
Starting on October 24th, Sita's Saturday Yoga Asana Level I/II, 12:30-1:30 pm will no longer be available.
Join Sita for her Stretch & Strengthening Level I/II Yoga: Relax, regenerate, rebuild class Fridays 10-11:30 am.
Upcoming Event!
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a universal science that goes back thousands of years. Originating from India, the teachings cover lifestyle, diet, exercise, herbs, and other natural treatments.
Ayurveda is a complete life science that explains how we can use nature to heal ourselves. Written down approximately 5,000 years ago by advanced sages, Ayurveda became the most complete accounting of the inter-relationship between the laws of nature, human physiology, and the surrounding universe. Ayurveda is a time-tested natural approach that reveals our fullest lives, provides natural energy, and works to prevent disease.
There is still time to register. For more information or to RSVP:
It is only when we look beyond the physical benefits of our yoga practice that we can discover the real treasure that the wisdom of yoga promises. This treasure has been spoken about throughout the ages. It is a treasure inherently ours: that of realizing our spiritual nature and our relationship with the Divine. Although this treasure cannot ever be taken from us, it can unfortunately, be forgotten.
In this world, so many people have indeed forgotten their spiritual nature - their real life, their real treasure. Even if we have some faith that the Divine is real, we all too often view our spiritual journey as a side thing and not our main purpose.
Material concerns and enjoyments often take precedence.
How do we grow in our spiritual journey so that we can realize our true treasure? When we want to be successful in sports, business, politics or any field of activity that attracts us, we understand that if we work diligently and enthusiastically, we are more likely to succeed. The same principle applies to the field of spiritual endeavor. With steadfast determination, we can progress in our journey. However, the problem faced by many is that our present material reality, in all its intensity, appears to be more real, while the spiritual realm can sometimes seem like a pipe dream.
Secondly, we can analyze the true nature of material happiness. A few years ago, some politicians were squabbling with each other about who did a better job of managing the economy. One of them stated, "the opposition gave us nothing more than five minutes of economic sunshine." Compared to the happiness that can be achieved in spiritual life, material life offers nothing more than "five minutes of sunshine." Even in the best-case scenarios we can be sure that any amount of material happiness we obtain won't last forever.
In her later years, the famous actress Katherine Hepburn was asked about "old age." She poignantly stated that the romantic perception of old age as pleasant was actually far from the truth, adding that old age was a miserable condition and if anyone thought otherwise they should "get out and have a look around." Coming from a legendary figure who enjoyed great material wealth and fame until her last days, this is profound commentary. She quoted one of her similarly forthright friends, who when asked how she was replied with, "Oh I'm fine, just don't ask about the details."
So it is with each one of us, young or old, rich or poor. Even in the midst of the unpleasant 'details' of material life, we may express that we are "fine." In this way, we 'put our best foot forward' and do the best we can with a bad bargain.
The wisdom of yoga helps us to realize a better bargain. Unlike the temporary material sunshine that comes and goes, spiritual sunshine never sets. It is an eternal sunshine that cannot be overshadowed by the 'details' - the dark clouds of material existence. Indeed, the wisdom of yoga helps us to realize a better bargain - the real treasure that is inheritantly ours and can never be taken from us.
Join us for Weekly Group Meditation Programs
Fridays 7 pm-8:30 pm and Sundays 4:30 pm-8 pm.
(Sundays include a Vegetarian Dinner)
Both programs are offered Free of Charge.
Recipe of The Month
Khichari
from the Kitchen of Nicole Wilkerson
Khichari is a basic, important Ayurvedic dish. Mung bean khichari is balancing for all doshas. Unadorned khichari is served in cleansing diets and while undergoing "Panchakarma," the ultimate Ayurvedic rejuvenation treatment. It is also good to use khichari as a healing food when people are ill and for those with delicate digestive systems, such as the very young or very old.
Ingredients for:
Step 1:
1 cup basmati rice
1/2 cup mung or toor dal, lentils or split peas
5 cups water
Step 2:
2 TBS ghee or oil
Pinch of hing (optional) also known as asafoetida
1 TBS minced fresh ginger
1 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds
2 tsp ground fennel
2 tsp ground cumin powder
1/2 tsp tumeric
2 tsp sea salt
Sugar (optional)
1/4 cup chopped, fresh cilantro at end
Juice from 1/2 lemon or to taste
Add more fresh ghee on top of each individual serving. (1/4 tsp)
Directions
1. Bring the rice, beans and water to boil in a pot. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until the dal is tender, all the water is absorbed and the mixture resembles a thick porridge (about 1 1/2 hours). Stir occasionally and be alert toward the end of the cooking so that the mixture doesn't stick. Add more water if necessary.
2. Heat the ghee or oil in a small skillet. Add the hing, ginger and seeds, wait until brown then add the powder spices. Keep a small amount of water on hand so mixture does not burn. Add salt and a pinch of sugar to taste. Sautee vegetables in spice mixture. When 3/4 cooked, add porridge and stir together. Let cook together for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Check salt. Turn off and garnish with chopped cilantro and lemon juice.
Variation:
Cook finely cut vegetables in the khichari: green beans, carrots, peas, zucchini, sweet potatoes, carrots, greens and asparagus. Ingredients for this recipe can be found at Whole Foods, most Indian supermarkets, health food stores and Raley's.
Enjoy this delicious Ayurvedic dish at our upcoming Ayurvedic Workshops, October 24th & 25th. Nicole will bring Ayurvedic refreshments and healing foods for Lotus Garden Meditation Center participants!
Health Tip
Ashwagandha
Common Name: Withania somnifera Ayurvedic Name: Ashwagandha
Other names: Indian ginseng, Winter cherry, Ajagandha, Kanaje Hindi Growing Area: India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Description:
Ashawagandha belongs to the tomato family and grows as a stout shrub that reaches 5 to 6 feet. It bears yellow flowers and red fruit.
Ayurvedic Medicinal Uses:
Ayurveda is a natural healing system which incorporates herbs as medicine. Ashwagandha is a rejuvenative herb that can be taken throughout the day to boost energy. It is one of the most highly regarded and commonly used adaptogens (herbs that work to normalize physiological function, working on the HPA axis and the neuroendoctrine system) in Ayurveda.
Common Uses of Ashwagandha:
Maximizes the body's ability to reduce stress
Enables the body to reserve and sustain vital energy throughout the day
Mainitains proper nourishment of tissues
Maintains proper nourishment of muscle and bones
Supports proper function of the adrenal glands
Promotes muscle strength & comfortable joint movement
Promotes sound sleep
Ashwagandha is commonly ingested in tablets and can be found at www.banyanbotanicals.com and other herbal, Ayurvedic websites.
While we have found the information in this newsletter to be beneficial in our pursuit of a healthy, balanced life, the content is no way intended to replace medical advice. Please always seek medical advice for your particular situation.
Yoga Asana
Bent Arm Plank Pose
(Chaturaunga Dandasana in Sanskrit)
Benefits
Strengthens the arms and wrists. Tones the abdomen.
Instructions
1. From child pose, reach your body forward into a straight-armed plank, toes curled under, pressing back into the heels and hands beneath the shoulders. Firm your shoulder blades against your back ribs and lengthen your tailbone toward your feet, engage your abdominal muscles.
2. Exhaling, slowly lower your torso and legs to a few inches above and parallel to the floor. Keep the tailbone firmly in place and legs very active, pressing the heels away from you. Lengthening throughout the front of the body, press down into the bases of the index finger, hold the elbows close to your sides, broaden between the shoulder blades and keep your neck long. Hold for 10-30 seconds.
3. Release by either laying on the floor or pushing up to plank pose and rest into child pose.
Modifications
a) To help support the pose, you can place a rolled up towel or folded blanket beneath the thighs and lightly rest on it. Alternatively, you can rest the knees on the floor.
b) If your wrists are weak, you can perform the pose with your forearms on the floor.
Gem of Wisdom
"As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones."
~Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 2, Text 22
New Student Special!
14 Days for $14
(pay $14 at your first class then come to as many classes as you like within the following 14 day period)
New student introductory special valid at Lotus Garden Meditation Center for first time students, includes Hatha Yoga, Little Lotus Yoga and Tai Chi.
Bring a friend for yoga at Lotus Garden Meditation Center and your friend takes the class for free. Offer valid for first time students only and includes Hatha Yoga and Tai Chi. Yoga teachers have coupons available upon request.
It is only when we look beyond the physical benefits of our yoga practice that we can discover the real treasure that the wisdom of yoga promises. This treasure has been spoken about throughout the ages. It is a treasure inherently ours: that of realizing our spiritual nature and our relationship with the Divine. Although this treasure cannot ever be taken from us, it can unfortunately, be forgotten.
How do we grow in our spiritual journey so that we can realize our true treasure? When we want to be successful in sports, business, politics or any field of activity that attracts us, we understand that if we work diligently and enthusiastically, we are more likely to succeed. The same principle applies to the field of spiritual endeavor. With steadfast determination, we can progress in our journey. However, the problem faced by many is that our present material reality, in all its intensity, appears to be more real, while the spiritual realm can sometimes seem like a pipe dream.
The wisdom of yoga helps us to realize a better bargain. Unlike the temporary material sunshine that comes and goes, spiritual sunshine never sets. It is an eternal sunshine that cannot be overshadowed by the 'details' - the dark clouds of material existence. Indeed, the wisdom of yoga helps us to realize a better bargain - the real treasure that is inheritantly ours and can never be taken from us. 
"As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones."
