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Ayurveda

Rest and Renew

December 10, 2022 By Terra

Rest and Renew is a great theme for now, the time of Winter (here in the Northern Hemisphere). Mother Nature has gone into this mode in the trees and plants. The perennial plants send their life energy down into their roots, insulated in the earth, protected from harsher coldness. They look a bit dead, but are really resting. It’s a natural way to survive when things get rough.

This time of year we often celebrate together. Yet it can sometimes become a whirlwind of activity, just when Nature tells us, “It’s dark more now – rest more now.” Do you look for the balance between activity and renewal? If the plants didn’t go deep now, they likely wouldn’t survive. When we don’t sleep deeply, rest enough, our health and lifespan suffers too – although it may not show up immediately.

What do you do to rest and renew? I meditate daily; I do breath work daily; I limit activities, leaving space to be a bit slower; I nap if I haven’t slept well; I take nice warm baths; I go out in the sunshine when it’s available; I walk outside in the clean,crisp air; I spend peaceful time with friends and family who are loving and supportive; I daydream, looking at the sky or the Solstice Tree; I laugh, sing, and dance; I read or watch inspiring stories. What do you do to rest and renew?

This balance of activity and rest alternate daily with the sun and yearly with the seasons. Being in touch with it suits being a healthy human.

(If you are interested in a shamanic journey about rest and renewal, Dec. Shamanic Study Group will have this theme. Join us if you are a journeyer. Contact Terra to register for the link.)

Filed Under: Ayurveda, Blog Posts, Uncategorized

Pratyahara – developing inner awareness

January 21, 2022 By Terra

Double Spiral of stones laid out on sand - one spiraling out from its center, then inward to the center of the other spiral

Pratyahara is one of the Eight Limbs of Yoga from the Yoga Sutras. It is the linchpin between working with the outer physical world and going to the more inner, subtle senses. This is relevant to both Ayurveda and Shamanism.

For Ayurveda, it works at awakening to the Atman, the Highest Self.  This is the source of Truth, Light, and Love.  It supports a sattvic mind, leading to better lifestyle choices.

For Shamanism, developing our inner senses allows us to sense the subtle Upper, Middle, and Lower Worlds. This allows us to bring more information back to this world.

The first steps to Pratyahara involve learning how to properly deal with relationships. These are the first limb – the Yamas and Niyamas.

Yamas

Yamas focus on our behavior and thoughts towards others.

  1. Ahimsa is non-harming, non-violence. It is being loving and compassionate.
  2. Satya is truthfulness and honesty.
  3. Astya is non-stealing.  We develop healthy interchange with others. This means not just avoiding thievery, but also avoiding being a taker or user without giving back somehow.
  4. Bramacharya is moderation of the outer senses.  This means controlling your sensual cravings and addictions.
  5. Aparigraha is non-hoarding. We avoid unnecessary materialism and selfishness around sharing our time and energy with the world.

Niyamas

Niyamas help us learn to maintain a positive environment and develop self-discipline and inner strength.

  1. Saucha is purity and cleanliness. This involves physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.
  2. Santosa is contentment.  Learning to accept and enjoy what is now.
  3. Tapas is heat or fire of practice. Using our best efforts even when we don’t want to develops the discipline needed for deep inner work.
  4. Svadhyaya is self study. We contemplate ourselves– mind and body – to find our own truths.
  5. Ishvara Pranidhana is surrender to Higher Self. We may surrender to Nature, a personal god or the higher self as spiritual practice.

Asana

Asana is another limb of yoga.  As a spiritual practice it is more than poses.  It liberally means “to sit calmly.” Through asana we become aware of our bodies, emotions, and minds. We become healthy, balanced, calm and disciplined enough for further inner work.  Prana – the life energy- can where we put our attention. Asana helps us become aware of our whole body. It also releases stuck areas that inhibit the flow of prana.

Pranayama

Pranayama is meant to allow prana to circulate freely through our body-emotion-mind- spirit system. It is opening up to allow the flow to happen. Being able to sit (or live) calmly and allow our prana to nourish every cell, give us the energy and safety to move on to pratyahara.

Pratyahara

Pratyahara can happen when the prana flows. We need to be in a safe place in the external world. Then we can practice opening up and strengthening our internal sense organs.  Next blog, we’ll delve more into the practice.

I highly recommend the Pratyahara class by Dr Claudia Welch and Dr Robert Svoboda

Part 2 will delve into more about developing Pratyahara

Filed Under: Ayurveda, Blog Posts, Inner Work, Meditation, Mind-Clear & Full, Shamanic Tagged With: Ayurveda, inner awareness, inner senses, pratyahara

Seminar: Ayurveda for Women’s Health

September 21, 2021 By Terra

consultation with pulse reading

Why a Seminar on Ayurveda for Women’s Health?

I teach about Ayurveda and Women’s Health. As a teacher for student Ayurveda Practitioners, I am excited about sharing what I know. And I’m also learning so much from teaching. I realize my Vata nature tends to excess and using a shot-gun approach, giving so much information students may miss the key points. It’s also a challenge to cover all of Women’s Health in just 20 hours of class. Thus, the dilemma.

Students asked for more.  I realized what we need is a seminar format after the information is delivered.

A place to: *Discuss topics more in depth. *Hone skills of determining treatments. *Practice thinking with Ayurveda even when presented with western medical situations.

That’s what my new class with be. Offered in March, 2022 will be SEMINAR ON WOMEN’S HEALTH TOPICS, which will be open to those who have the prerequisite background.  This Seminar on Ayurveda for Women’s Health will be limited to maximum of 7 students per section. I will offer at least 2 sections, perhaps more if there is demand. We will meet 2 hours weekly for 10 weeks. While classes will be recorded, this class is about live interaction and you must commit to attending at least half the sessions in person and review the recording of what you missed.

At the first class we will decide as a group on topics we will cover, as well as share our backgrounds and goals about women’s health as a practitioner.

Section 1: Saturdays,Feb 18-April 22 , 1-3pm Mountain Time

Join us!  Register Here  

Check out Ayurveda Mentoring Group with Terra as an alternative.

Filed Under: Ayurveda, Ayurveda CEUs, Blog Posts, Classes, Continuing Ed Classes, Terra Rafael Tagged With: Ayurveda, Continuing Ed, live seminar, women's health

About Menopause and Hot Flashes. . .

October 30, 2020 By Terra

This audio interview of Terra, hosted by Karen Spies of THE EVOLVING WOMEN PODCAST, is a brief but informative conversation about menopause.

Hear about Terra’s origins as an Ayurveda Practitioner, some facts about Menopause, and explanation about Hot Flashes and what can help.

Enjoy it Here!

If you want a WiseWomanhood class about menopause, try GRACEFUL MENOPAUSE WITH AYURVEDA or IS THIS MENOPAUSE? KNOW IT TO BETTER SURF IT

Filed Under: Ayurveda, Blog Posts, Menopausal Change Tagged With: hot flash, menopause, origin story for Terra, Terra Rafael

Thriving Through “the Change”

September 30, 2020 By Terra

Statue of voluptuous, faceless woman in a sacred pose of the moon

Perimenopause, the Change, is like adolescence in reverse. And we all remember the wonder and craziness of adolescence. So don’t be surprised when you hit your late 40s and life gets more life-y for you.

It’s not written in stone that the Change be uncomfortable and mentally disorienting. By learning more about it and preparing it can be a smoother ride.

The Change is usually a gradual process – unless you have a hysterectomy. Then it comes on fast and furious. It happens when your ovaries no longer respond to hormones telling them to develop eggs so well.

Patterns of Perimenopause

Some women’s bodies respond by creating more and more hormones, stimulating more and more eggs to develop, making more and more estrogen. This sometimes means they get super periods – lots of blood and cramps may ensue. They might bleed every two weeks. Anger may ensue. A Pitta problem according to Ayurveda.

Other women have lighter and further apart periods. The ovaries are already retiring. Estrogen is already dropping. Anxiety and forgetfulness may accompany this Vata problem.

Then some women just stop bleeding. No biggie. This is more likely with Kapha women.

How Ayurveda Helps

Ayurveda can help you by balancing your Pitta, Vata, and Kapha BEFORE (best) or during the Change to allow the natural transition to happen more gracefully. Diet, herbs, and lifestyle make a big difference. And symptoms can be met with something besides artificial hormones.

After the Change, a program of rejuvenation can be instituted to keep you at your peak through the menopausal years.

Learn more about the Change and how to surf its ups and down in these WiseWomanhood classes:

Is This Menopause? Know it to Better Surf It. Perfect if you’re new to Ayurveda.

Graceful Menopause with Ayurveda First presented to the Colorado Ayurvedic Medicine Association, so some Ayurvedic understanding helps.

You might want an Initial Consultation with Terra Rafael CAP to get a personalized plan to prepare / surf your perimenopause or menopause.

Or if you’re an Ayurveda Practitioner and want to increase your knowledge about the Change time or consult about your clients – sign up for Mentoring with Terra

Filed Under: Ayurveda, Blog Posts, Menopausal Change Tagged With: ayurveda for menopause, ayurveda for perimenopause, menopause, perimenopause, the Change

Dosha Tests & Beyond

July 3, 2020 By Terra

For my twenty years of Ayurveda practice I’ve avoided using the “Dosha Tests” with my clients. I could determine their doshas simply through history, symptoms and pulse readings.

I want to spread the word on the usefulness of Ayurveda and so many know so little about it. So, with the help of my tech mentor, Karen at Spiezz Digital, we’ve created a less jargon-y quiz to ease people in.

This fun test is perfect for those just getting interested in Ayurveda and wanting to know more about themselves. Please share it with any such humans (not yet calibrated for wild things, pets, or aliens).

Of course, the test is just a first step into the never-ending story of Ayurveda…after all, the science of Life is as long and varied as Life itself…

The Test: Are You Doing All the Wrong Things for Your Health?

Filed Under: Ayurveda, Ayurveda Categories, Beginning Ayurveda Concepts, Blog Posts, Free Intro Classes, Introduction to Ayurveda, Self Care Tagged With: Ayurveda, ayurveda self care, body type, Body type test, dosha test, doshas, learn my body type

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