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Briya Freeman

Meditation & Modern Spirituality

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Natural Self-Care & Beauty for a Balanced, Healthy Fall

Oct 26, 2020
2 min

Natural Self-Care & Beauty for a Balanced, Healthy Fall

Natural Self-Care & Beauty for a Balanced, Healthy Fall “The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let the dead things go.” – Unknown Fall is a very special time of year, as we transition from the hot, expansive energy of summer to the cooler, more inward season ahead. In Ayurveda, fall is considered "vata season" where we have the opportunity to pay special attention to the air and ether elements of the body-mind. Here are a few tips for balance and self-care thi

Celebrating Mahashivaratri : The Great Night of Shiva

Apr 10, 2020
2 min

Celebrating Mahashivaratri : The Great Night of Shiva

"Verily, He is the inner self of all beings.” - The Upanishads Celebrating Maha Shivaratri : The Great Night of Shiva Last week, we celebrated Mahashivaratri or "the Great Night of Lord Shiva" in Kerala. On this day, women (and some men) were fasting and staying up all night to pray for a husband with the qualities of Shiva. In the Vedas, Shiva is known as the absolute husband, despite the fact that he lives in the mountains, is constantly engaged in meditation, has no posses

Roasted Cauliflower in Herbed Yogurt Sauce

Jan 25, 2020
2 min

Roasted Cauliflower in Herbed Yogurt Sauce

"Our lives are not in the lap of the gods, but in the lap of our cooks." - Lin Yutang Roasted Cauliflower in Herbed Yogurt Sauce This is a classy vegetable side dish that's easy, sophisticated and delicious. We used baked cauliflower here because we love it, but you could use substitute for any other baked, steamed or sauteed veggie such as carrots, peas, zucchini, or other veggies. Serve with a dal soup or quinoa and steamed greens. Fermented foods -- such as fresh yogurt o

Chocolate Chip Spice Cookies

Jan 21, 2020
2 min

Chocolate Chip Spice Cookies

"Through love all that is bitter will be sweet, Through love all that is copper will be gold, Through love all dregs will become wine, Through love all pain will turn to medicine." - Rumi Chocolate Chip Spice Cookies These cookies are lovely, grounding, vata-pacifying Ayurvedic treat for the fall or winter. If you wish, you can substitute the chocolate for raisins, but why would you want to? Ingredients: 4 cups almond flour (I used freshly ground almonds in the food processo

Chyawanprash: A Healthy Winter Jam to Boost Immunity, Energy and Stress-Resilience

Nov 26, 2019
3 min

Chyawanprash: A Healthy Winter Jam to Boost Immunity, Energy and Stress-Resilience

We start with a story... The Story of Chyawan and the Young Princess Long ago, there was an old sage named Chyawan. This sage lived in the forest and spent much of his time in meditation and seclusion. Often, he would go into such deep states of meditation that he would become covered in moss, twigs, leaves, branches and ants. One morning, Chyawan was a deep state of meditation when a young princess named Sukanya came along the path. By chance, the princess' hand grazed the h

An Easy Tea to Boost the Digestive Fire

Nov 7, 2019
1 min

An Easy Tea to Boost the Digestive Fire

“Surely a pretty woman never looks prettier than when making tea.” ― Mary Elizabeth Braddon Ginger is a supreme medicine in the fall and winter to boost circulation, digestion and immunity. Enjoy this warming drink 30 mins - 1 hour before meals. 1. Boil 1 cup of water in your kettle 2. Add 1/4 teaspoon of dry ginger powder and one squeeze of lemon and stir. Allow to steep for 3-5 minutes. 3. Reduce heat by adding 1/4 cup cool water 4. Add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon raw local honey Lea

The Importance of Sweet in Ayurveda

Nov 4, 2019
4 min

The Importance of Sweet in Ayurveda

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." - Kalil Gibran On the 6 Tastes (Rasas) You may already be aware that the taste of your food has a direct impact on your mind, body and emotional wellbeing. For example, the sweetness of a cherry pie evokes memories of comfort, relaxation and well-being. Meanwhile, a dark cup of coffee stimulates focus, drive and achie

Rejuvenative Drink for Vata Dosha

Sep 18, 2019
1 min

Rejuvenative Drink for Vata Dosha

"The deliciousness of milk and honey is the reflection of the pure heart. From that heart, the sweetness of every sweet thing is derived." - Rumi Ashwagandha is a popular ayurvedic herb known to promote endurance, immunity, resilience to stress, muscle tone, sound sleep and sexual vitality. It is ideal for balancing vata and kapha dosha, and a great tonic for the fall and winter months. This drink can be taken at bedtime to promote sound sleep, or anytime you need a boost. I

7 Tips for Deep Sleep from Ayurveda

Sep 13, 2019
3 min

7 Tips for Deep Sleep from Ayurveda

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything." - Celtic Proverb A good sleep cycle is so important: sleep heals you from the stresses and strains of your day and supports the development of new neural pathways in the brain, strong immune function, emotional resilience and hormonal balance. In modern culture, however, insomnia is all too common, especially in the fall. In the mind-body science of ayurveda, this is explained by the change in the element in

Health that Glows: Finding Ojas, Your Natural Radiance

Jul 9, 2019
4 min

Health that Glows: Finding Ojas, Your Natural Radiance

We know ojas when we see it : the glow of a woman in love; the magnetism of sages and saints; the power of a person living their purpose; or, the insatiable attraction we have toward the babies and young children. Ayurveda recognizes a subtle bodily substance called ojas (pronounced o-jahs) as the foundation for our overall health, happiness and resilience to stress. Its name translates as “strength”, “splendour”, “lustre” or “powerful expression”. Ojas is a very refined, pro

Are You A Seeker?

Jul 8, 2019
2 min

Are You A Seeker?

What is a Seeker? We call those who seek the truth of who they are as "seekers". The seeker is one who is called to curious pursuits. They are our healers, mystics, poets, creators, dreamers, visionaries. The seeker is usually an artist-type, without necessarily having touched a paint brush or mastered any particular art form. The seeker is drawn to express the creative self, because at its core, the awakened heart is creative. A seeker is born sensitive. They are often calle

Delicious & Easy Red Lentil Dahl

Mar 22, 2019
2 min

Delicious & Easy Red Lentil Dahl

A well-spiced dahl is one of the best foods that you can eat at any time of the year. Light, tasty and easily digestible, it’s one of the best meals for balancing the body and mind. It’s also a great source of protein and is easily digestible, making it a perfect food for young children, busy adults and the elderly. Dhal is traditionally eaten with rice, chapatis and an optional side of chutney. I also usually serve it with a side of steamed greens. This recipe cooks in 40 mi

Blissful By Nature: 9 Ayurvedic Principles for Blissed Out Living

Mar 22, 2019
5 min

Blissful By Nature: 9 Ayurvedic Principles for Blissed Out Living

One of the things we all have in common is that we want to be happy: to experience pleasure, joy, good health, fulfillment and a sense of purpose. The ultimate state of happiness is known as “bliss”, an all-pervading sense of love, peace and well-being with what you are and all that exists. Bliss is the feeling of heaven on Earth, a perfect state of contentment, balance and peace which is undisturbed by any external circumstance. Bliss: the ultimate state of happiness, peace,

What is Ayurveda?

Mar 22, 2019
3 min

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda: The Mother of Natural Healing Traditions Ayurveda is one of the oldest systems of healing on the planet. It is widely considered to be the mother of all of the world’s healing traditions, including naturopathy, acupuncture, traditional chinese medicine, chiropractic medicine and aromatherapy. Ayurveda originated in India over 5,000 years ago, and is still broadly practiced across the world today. In modern times, interest in ayurveda is living a kind of renaissance