The Elements of Health

A little reminder if anyone else was thinking of joining us for the next term of Yoga classes starting this Thursday. I have been enjoying planning these Chakra based Yoga practices over the next 6 weeks.

The Chakras are connected to our subtle energy body and through simple practices we can increase our awareness of these centres helping to strengthen our physical body as well as reducing energy blockages. As with any Yoga practice the benefits are many and have an holistic and balancing effect on the whole mind-body system.

All the details are in the poster below, please let me know if you would like to book a place.

My yoga class at Parc Slip is returning this week. All the details in the poster below, contact me if you'd like to come along.

My yoga class at Parc Slip is returning this week. All the details in the poster below, contact me if you'd like to come along.

My next block of Yoga classes begins on 22nd February at Parc Slip Visitors Centre, Bridgend.

I always find February a better time to start something new rather then during the dark days of January!

My classes are most suited to those with some experience of Yoga and who are looking for more than a physical practice.

So if this resonates with you and you would like to take a positive step for your health then join me.

Space is limited to 10 lovely people so contact me to book - [email protected]

Saw these little beauties while out walking today. The first stirrings of Spring 🌱...Happy Imbolc!

Wonderful, uplifting evening last night - singing and providing the soundscape for the Network Spinal event at The Tuning Room.
I hope everyone received what they needed ✨️
Next one is the 1st March I believe

Why I believe knowing our body's unique constitution helps us in making better choices about which herbs and supplements we take

http://theelementsofhealth.co.uk/uncategorized/importance-dosha-herbs/

Why it is important to know your dosha when taking herbs and supplements - The Elements of Health I overheard a lady giving advice to another lady while out and about recently. She was telling her what herbal tinctures she should be taking and I thought to myself how easy it is now to self medicate without really knowing or understanding what our body actually needs or what effect it will have.

'The road appears with the first step' Rumi

Our future self is sculpted by the actions we take. I may not always know the whole road ahead but by taking one step at a time the path ahead starts to clear.

These photos don't do justice to the beauty in the woods during spring. It can't capture the smell of the bluebells or the damp soil, it can't capture the birdsong or the warm breeze against my skin. In order to experience it we have to live it.
Walking in nature makes my soul happy 😊

Www.theelementsofhealth.co.uk

Oooh new books! 😊📚 so many books so little time...
Anyone have any other recommendations?

Felt inspired to write an article about our local spring plants from an Ayurvedic perspective. Hope you find it useful!

Local Spring herbs from an Ayurvedic perspective - The Elements of Health Spring is a great time for getting outside and sampling some local plants. There is an abundance of nettles, dandelions, wild garlic and cleavers at this time of year.

Freshly made organic ghee - liquid sunshine 🌞 ✨️

When I started eating ghee it made a big difference to my digestion as it helps to repair the walls of the digestive tract if there is any 'leakiness' which can cause intolerances and auto immune problems.

It is rich in omega 3 and butyric acid which is what helps to heal the digestive tract and reduce inflammation.

Even though it is high in saturated fat, this fat is made up of short chain fatty acids which are easily digested by the liver and can be used for energy rather than contributing to weight gain.

Ghee is also called an 'anupana' which is a substance which aids nutrients and herbs to move across the cell wall to nourish our bodies at a cellular level.

I make mine every week from organic unsalted butter and it is super easy to do although you can buy it ready prepared. Make sure it is from grass fed cows though for maximum benefit. 🐄

Www.theelementsofhealth.co.uk

Out walking this morning and found an abundance of these herbal treasures...dandelion leaf, wild garlic and garlic mustard.

Spring is the perfect time of year to include more of the bitter and pungent tastes into our diet, hence why these plants grow at this time of year! Nature is helping us to clear away any heaviness and congestion that may have built up over the winter.

In Ayurveda, Spring is associated with Kapha (elements of water and earth) and eating more bitter, pungent and astringent foods will help reduce any congestion, sinus issues, water retention or just a feeling of heaviness.

How much of these tastes you need will depend on your individual constitution. Less is sometimes more if you are a Vata person like me!

Www.theelementsofhealth.co.uk

What Ayurveda taught me about my raw cacao obsession...

My relationship with raw cacao over the last 10 years has been a bit all or nothing.

I first started eating cacao in 2011 when introduced to it by a naturopath and was taught how to make my own raw chocolates. That was it, I couldn’t get enough of it and was eating it everyday. I think at the time I was using raw cacao as a way to heal my heart and bring more love into my life. Raw cacao does have an affinity with the heart and is thought to open the heart chakra and create feelings of bliss and unconditional love.

Fast forward to 2019 when I had my first Ayurvedic consultation and I realised how much my raw cacao addiction had been a contributing factor in unbalancing my doshas. There were other factors involved too but eating too much raw cacao was aggravating my Vata and Pitta doshas.

Continue reading...

Ayurvedic perspective on Raw Cacao - The Elements of Health When I had my first Ayurvedic consultation and I realised how much my raw cacao addiction had been a contributing factor in unbalancing my doshas. There were other factors involved too but eating too much raw cacao was aggravating my Vata and Pitta doshas.

Staying healthy and balanced into Autumn!

The autumn season is dominated by the Vata dosha, meaning that the cooler, dry, windy weather has an affinity with some of the qualities of the Vata dosha (dry, light, cold, rough, mobile etc) and so it can be more challenging to keep this dosha in balance especially if you have a lot of Vata in your constitution.

When Vata is aggravated there can be a tendency towards more dryness (dry skin, constipation) or more anxiety (since there is more movement in the mind caused by the mobile quality of Vata).

There is also a need to rid the body of any excess heat (pitta) that has accumulated over the summer which could cause an increase in inflammation or skin flare ups or hot emotions (anger, frustration).

*Eating foods such as apples, squash, pomegranates or grapes/raisins will help to release excess heat from the body after the summer.
*Balancing this with more vata pacifying foods such as sweet potato and other root vegetables, soft cheese and warming spices (e.g ginger, black pepper).
*Some lifestyle practices could be having a more stable routine, going to bed by 10pm, wearing a hat when outside to avoid aggravating vata in the ears and mind or having a warm bath with Epsom salts.

For more information about Ayurveda visit https://theelementsofhealth.co.uk/ayurveda-2/

"If you work on yourself, you are going to create a beautiful place inside to live. This is more important than your marriage or your family. It's more important than your job or your career. You are working on yourself directly instead of indirectly. If you create a beautiful inner environment, you can have a wonderful marriage, a wonderful life, and a wonderful job." Michael Singer.

I couldn't agree more!

Photo: Lotus flower near Cowbridge Physic Garden

As we have had some rain this morning I have decided to cancel the outdoor class this morning as it's too unpredictable this morning. It is a shame but I am planning a new indoor class soon. Have a lovely bank holiday weekend x

Anxiety

I’ve noticed a creeping growing anxiety within me over the last couple of months which has overwhelmed me sometimes. While I am trying to grow my business almost from scratch again my head seems to be full of all the things I want to do and feel like I should be doing. I’ve had melt downs because I didn’t know what to focus on first as it all seemed important. Creating change, for me, creates anxiety.

During my early twenties I suffered with terrible anxiety and panic attacks although I didn't realise at the time what was happening to me. I have thankfully got better at recognising it and now take steps to rebalance myself before it gets that bad.

My Ayurveda teacher Dr Deepika says that anxiety, quite simply, is a result of too much thinking. My partner Jon, reminds me it is all self generated by my thoughts and paying too much attention to them.

So how can we reduce the amount of thinking we do and take steps to find our centre once again?

From an Ayurvedic perspective thoughts are connected to the air element and therefore connected to Vata (air and ether). Vata has the qualities of being light, mobile and subtle so too much Vata creates more of these qualities and too many thoughts.

Some ways that I have found to reduce my anxiety and therefore reduce Vata include:

1. Sloooowing dowwwn. Hard I know but doing one thing at a time reduces feelings of overwhelm. I constantly have to remind myself of this one. There always feels like so much to do and it all needs to be done NOW. Well, things will get done in their own time and maybe just be satisfied with not getting so much done in one day.

2. Having a steady routine. Eating and sleeping at regular times, for me going to bed at 10pm is important. Also not too much travelling around.

3. Eating naturally sweet, warming, cooked meals such as stews, soups, rice pudding, mash potato with ghee. These all help to reduce Vata and create a feeling of comfort, warmth and grounding.

4. Avoiding too much social media, TV and radio. Our energy is constantly moving outwards when we engage with these and creates too much internal movement, noise and distractions. Setting ourselves some boundaries around all forms of media.

5. Giving myself a Reiki treatment. Anxiety is the number one reason why people come to me for a Reiki treatment and it is excellent at helping to create deep relaxation and peace. I feel renewed and centred afterwards.

6. Doing some Yoga or a Yoga Nidra guided meditation. These help to bring the Vata energy down from my head and back into my body.

7. Journalling. I’ve been writing every morning recently in a practice called Morning Pages and it really helps to get the thoughts out onto a page rather than keeping them whirling around inside. By seeing them clearly written down it creates a separation so I can then look at them more objectively.

There are many other ways to reduce anxiety and for some the situation is more complex. I’m sharing what I have learnt and what works for me in the hope that it may help you too.

Claire x

Hair Health

I had my hair done today and no I don't mention this because I'm looking for compliments :)
My hairdresser noticed that my hair was looking more healthy and stronger than it had done over the previous few years and I started telling him about what I had been doing to improve the health of my hair.

I noticed a few years ago that my hair was starting to become finer, drier, more brittle and frizzier. Probably not that anyone else would notice except me and my hairdresser but it started to concern me.

Since studying Ayurveda I have learnt that hair is actually a waste product of our bone tissue and the health of our bones is reflected in the health of our hair. This started to concern me more but it is never too late to reverse those changes.

As someone who has a lot of Vata (air and ether elements) in their constitution and because I had previously been eating a diet that was quite Vata aggravating, my hair was suffering and displaying more vata qualities such as dry, brittle, frizzy, rough. To reverse this I had started eating a diet that was more vata pacifying and which would be more nourishing to the bone tissue and ultimately to my hair. For example I started eating ghee, soft cheeses, more iron rich foods and calcium rich foods such as sesame seeds. I also reduced those vata aggravating foods such as cold raw salads and smoothies.

Externally I started to use nourishing oils to strengthen the hair such as argan, coconut and avocado. I have recently bought a hair oil which contains ayurvedic herbs that further improve hair health.

It is empowering to know that there is so much that we can do to improve not only our hair health but our health in general.

Contact me if you'd like to find out how Ayurveda could help you too.

https://mailchi.mp/393144a148f4/theelementsofhealth

Claire x

Should we be eating raw or cooked food? This is something that I have thought a lot about over the last few years as I have heard different schools of thought about what is best for us.

I think the answer is not straight forward and really does depend on a persons individual constitution (dosha), the climate, the strength of their digestive fire (agni) and also their own personal beliefs about raw food.

I can only speak from my own experience and from what I have learnt from studying Naturopathy and Ayurveda.

While studying Naturopathy I was taught that the food that contained the most vitality and enzymes was raw food and this was the best way to eat for spiritual growth. So I tried by having smoothies, salads and raw chocolate, but I felt heavy, cold, sluggish and tired. My digestion was struggling in a big way.

Since having my first Ayurvedic consultation I learnt that my constitution, which is Vata-Pitta, suits more lightly cooked foods which are easier to digest such as soups, stews, dahls with steamed vegetables. Immediately I felt that there wasn't a battle going on in my digestion and I felt more peaceful.

I think it is incorrect to say that only raw food contains vital energy. Freshly prepared cooked food that has been made with love and is easily digested is just as full of vitality and our bodies will thank us for it.

We also can't chew raw vegetables small enough so that we are able to absorb them. Cooking vegetables softens the fibres and also eating them with some ghee helps the nutrients to permeate the cell walls.

Having said that I have found that in warm weather I am able to eat a little raw food and particularly at the middle of the day when my digestion is strongest. So it really does depend on lots of factors, particularly the persons individual constitution of elements (dosha).

The more we bring our doshas into balance the quicker we are able to feel when something we eat doesn't feel right.

Happy eating!
Claire

To find out more visit my landing page while I am still building my new website https://mailchi.mp/393144a148f4/theelementsofhealth

In case you needed reminding today...I know I do sometimes.

A great practice for me is to slow down and eat with no distractions. But I find this so challenging. Why do we find it so hard nowadays to just do one thing at a time? Doing multiple things at once creates overwhelm, it scatters our energy. Even listening to something while eating pulls our energy in different directions.

One thing that I have learnt from Ayurveda is how important mindful eating is because it focusses our attention on our food and digestion. If our energy is focussing outwards on watching TV, listening to a podcast, reading a book, our energy is not in our stomach where it should be when we are eating.

If you are experiencing digestive discomfort or feeling overwhelmed then try this simple practice first.

Our minds are so fast but our bodies are slow, our digestion is slow. To get the most amount of nourishment from the food we eat, we need to give our body time to digest it fully which will then nourish all our 7 dhatus or tissues.
After cooking myself a delicious meal I want to savour it, enjoy it, really taste it mmmm.

Another reason for doing this is noticing how our body reacts to the food we eat.
We can listen and become in tune with what we need to balance us.
We can listen to when we are actually full rather than eating too much and feeling heavy and bloated.
We can listen to when we eat something that doesn't make us feel good and avoid it in future.

I'm writing this as much for myself as for you. A great reminder to slow down.

I hope you can simply eat in peace and enjoy it tonight!

I love Sweet Williams! I'm not sure why I connect with them so much but their spirit speaks to me. I can almost see the little fairy dancing inside each flower 🧚‍♀️🧚‍♂️🧚

I am making friends with social media again...I almost completely switched off from it over the last couple of years.

It was too much.
Life was more simple without the background noise.

Being highly sensitive and an empath it was what felt best for my nervous system. However recently I have had a change of perspective and want to use it on my terms, to not listen to the patriarchal drum that says I have to post all day everyday, to be prolific, to favour quantity over quality.

No!

Using it on my terms means feeling centred, inspired and connected when I write posts as this will be the energy I am then transmitting. I recently sent Reiki to the social media channels that I use and this helped to clear the negative energy I had around them. I also burned some Mugwort smudging sticks around my laptop and phone too. I can't believe I hadn't thought to do this before!

So here goes, making friends with Facebook. My intention? To share things that inspire, to raise awareness and to hopefully help you with your health

Blessings on your day
Claire x
https://mailchi.mp/393144a148f4/theelementsofhealth

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