As part of our education about pancha karma, Ayurveda’s intensive detoxification and rejuvenation process, we have been learning some of the hands-on patient treatments. While some of these may look like spa offerings, they are powerful therapies designed as part of a full treatment plan with specific sequences and preparations. The most well-known Ayurveda treatments … Continue reading The Laying-On of Hands
Category: Ayurveda
How (and Why) to Make Buttermilk (and Yogurt and Butter!)
Contrary to popular belief, buttermilk is NOT what you will find in the local Food Giant or Publix grocery store in the “buttermilk” carton. Oh no. It is an amazing health-promoting, smooth, tasty beverage made from fresh milk. In Sanskrit, it is called takra, and it has many healing properties. Gently sour and astringent, it … Continue reading How (and Why) to Make Buttermilk (and Yogurt and Butter!)
Making Medicine
I spent last Friday night standing in Vaidyagrama's open air kitchen looking out over the wall at the deep green banana tree tops, listening to the grazing cows mooing from inside the grove, and tending a fire stove trying to bring a vessel of Balaguduchyadi herbal decoction to a boil. Ayurveda offers guidance in lifestyle … Continue reading Making Medicine
The Bruhut Trayi
So, what have we been doing in class over here, one might rightly ask? That IS the whole point, right? Remarkably, on average we have over five hours of class every day. We have been reviewing a great deal of material to which we were introduced last year in school, but now we have the … Continue reading The Bruhut Trayi
A Word About “Being Good”
The other day, Lynn said to me, “Ivy, you’re so good, going to prayers every morning.” It had never occurred to me that going to prayers qualified me as “good.” I just love going. I love the promise in the dark dawn air as we gather in the lamplight; I love the sense of connection … Continue reading A Word About “Being Good”
Rishikesh – A Partial Report…
We have had an amazing voyage. We left Rishikesh last Wednesday with our minds full of new ideas, our bodies well exercised, our eyes imprinted with new visions, and our bags bursting with souvenirs - and dirty laundry. It's taken me a full week to get caught up enough in my daily life here to … Continue reading Rishikesh – A Partial Report…
The Land of the Yogis
We’re going to Rishikesh! We just found out yesterday, and we fly out tomorrow – for ten enormous days. We are beset with laundry and packing pandemonium, interspersed with incredulous laughter and open-mouthed amazement at our good fortune. Some fairy godmother must be in charge around here. I mentioned in a recent post that Vaidyagrama’s … Continue reading The Land of the Yogis
Rhythm and Routine
We’ve been at Vaidyagrama for almost four weeks, and I am settling into my daily routine. My roommate Lynn and I get up at 5:00 and go about our waking up rituals silently, more or less. After tooth-brushing and such, I do a self-massage with coconut oil followed by a brief warm shower to help … Continue reading Rhythm and Routine
The Grown Ups' Table
This past weekend, I chose to stay put while my classmates returned to Isha, a temple and meditation center that we all went to last weekend. I enjoyed myself thoroughly the first time we were there, but I didn't want to leave Vaidyagrama again, at least not for awhile. In so many ways, this place … Continue reading The Grown Ups' Table
Medical Camp Day
Every last Sunday of the month, Vaidyagrama hosts a “medical camp” in one of the nearby villages, offering free herbal medications and medical advice. This past weekend, we got to come along to help and to pick up what we could by observing since we certainly wouldn’t understand what was being said. We arrived around … Continue reading Medical Camp Day
Ivy Ingram, MA, AP 