Recent & Past SVA Newsletters

This page holds all of our most recent and past SVA Newsletters below. Simply click on the newsletter title to read that issue.

Rituals of Self-Care for Stressful Times – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Nov 5, 2020 – #43, Vol 10

November 6, 2020 by Leave a Comment

20% Off this Week
SVA Rituals for Self-Care
An Abhyanga A week
Oftentimes we get so caught up in our daily race for things and events that we lose perspective. Specially when life gets stressful – collectively – the way it has in these unprecedented times. Feels like no matter which way we turn there is no exit! Now more than ever, it’s good to take a moment to re-adjust our focus and remind ourselves: we live in a cosmic reality that pre-existed us and that will continue to be here long after we’ve gone… This reality supersedes us. Our lives are a small part of this reality, and our bodies are a material expression of the same elements of Nature that make up this reality. We run on the same laws that Mother Nature put into place to regulate the “rising” of the sun and the cycles of the moon. All we have to do is stay in-sync. Maintaining our relationship to the world we live in does not have to be a big deal. It can come down to very simple daily principles. Such as following the daily cycles of the sun for eating and sleeping. Or staying in sync with seasonal changes for diet.
 In Western culture, we have lost sight of rituals that help us reset our bodies and maintain our health and happiness. Our seasonal and annual rituals sadly amount to nothing more than commercialized holidays! But for those of us who have been blessed to have the wisdom of Ayurveda, and specially the SVA teachings of Vaidya Mishra in our lives, we know how small yet significant dietary and lifestyle changes can bring about great(er) balance and bliss.
Now more than ever, we need to refer back to these rituals to help us surf the big waves of these transformative times. Start with something as simple as a weekly or biweekly self-oil massage. Nothing helps calm the nervous system, settle the mind, soothe the heart, like a warm oil massage. The ayurvedic texts and ancient rishis were unwavering about this. 
Nowhere is the science of ayurvedic transdermal healing better illustrated than in the chapter on Abhyanga. Abhyanga is the time-tested ancient method of massaging the body with warm herbalized oils to make the limbs supple, relax and energize the mind, building resistance to physical and mental stress. With unique SVA formulations, you can now safely supplement your body with Magnesium, Vit D, Turmeric, and many more unique herbal and floral synergies.
Massage, when done right, relieves fatigue and stress, relaxes the muscles, calms the mind, improves circulation. It is ideal to get a massage a week, or even two! But if you can’t afford to get the time for one, or can’t seem to find that perfect therapist who does not leave you bruised after a too deep-tissue massage session, why not do it yourself? That’s right, you can do this yourself in the comfort of your own home each morning, or at least once, or twice, per week. The benefits are innumerable. Here are some: 
  • transdermally nourishes the body with minerals and nutrients – depending on the oil you are using; 
  • pacifies all the doshas; 
  • relieves fatigue; 
  • provides stamina, and induces deep restful sleep at night; 
  • enhances the complexion and the luster of the skin; 
  • promotes longevity; 
And even more benefits:
  • Improves circulation
  • gives mental clarity
  • Increases Longevity
  • Decreases the effects of aging
  • Reduces Stress
  • Strengthens Immune system
  • Rejuvenates skin to make it smooth and support fat metabolism
  • Softens and moisturizes the skin
  • Lubricates the joints 
  • Calms the nerves 
  • Tones the muscles
What does the sourcebook of Ayurveda, the Carak Samhita, say about self-abhyanga?
snehābhyaṅgādyathā kumbhaścarma snehavimardanāt| 
bhavatyupāṅgādakṣaśca dṛḍhaḥ kleśasaho yathā|| 
(ca. saṁ. 5/85)
With proper oil, abhyanga gives the skin firmness even as it makes it soft. In the second sentence we read that all body parts (anga) become more efficient, firm and more tolerant against physical stress.
tathā śarīramabhyaṅgāddṛḍhaṁ sutvak jāyate| 
praśāntamārutābādhaṁ kleśavyāyāmasaṁsaham||
(ca. saṁ. 5/86)
So the first line of the verse says “doing full-body massage gives more strength and better complexion to the skin. The second line tells us that abhyanga pacifies all vata disturbance and gives more endurance for exercise.”
sparśane’bhyadhiko vāyuḥ sparśanaṁ ca tvagāśritam| 
tvacyaśca paramabhyaṅgastasmāttaṁ śīlayennaraḥ||
(ca. saṁ. 5/87)
Here Carak explains that if there is sensitivity of skin created by vata dosha imbalance, then it will get pacified, and acquire better tolerance to touch pressure. In addition, massage nurtures all six layers of skin. The health of the skin, its lustre and suppleness improve even more with regular weekly massage. Overall, all vata-pacifying health benefits accrue with daily or weekly oil massage sessions.
Which Oil to Use?
Over the years Vaidya formulated several SVA massage oils to address different constitutional types and their needs. You don’t need to use SVA formulations, as long as you have good massage oils appropriate for your constitution and the season, provided they do not have any chemicals or a chemical preservation system. You also have to make sure your massage oil has not been adulterated. Finally, there is a high chance that it is, or soon will be after opening, rancid and active with free-radical causing molecules in your body through transdermal absorption. 
Vaidya Mishra’s SVA massage oils undergo pranic prepping and preservation methods that stop oxidization without compromising the intelligence of the oil base or the herbal infusions. We have a wide range of oils to chose from: 
  • Vata Oil for Abhyanga
  • Men’s Rasayana Oil; 
  • Pitta Massage Oil;
  • Vata Abhyanga Oil with Magnesium & Vitamin D; 
  • Vata Massage Oil; 
  • Women’s Rasayana Oil; 
  • Magnesium Massage Oil; 
  • Magnesium Body Massage Oil – with Ashwagandha; 
  • Turmeric & Magnesium Massage Oil; 
  • Pitta Massage Oil with Magnesium;
Consult your SVA practitioner or follow the link to each product to find out which SVA Massage Oil is best for you. 
How It’s Done!
Warm your oil slightly in the sink by keepin under hot running water, or in a baby bottle warmer – this calms and pacifies the body and mind right away, also facilitating absorption. to give more comfort and absorption. Pour a little warm oil into your palms and apply it onto the area you are working on. It’s a good idea to start from the feet and the toes first. Work your way up, and massage your entire body, applying even pressure with the whole hand — palm and fingers. 
Finally, oil your head. Use one of our SVA oils made especially for hair and scalp. Warm it up as well. When massaging sensitive areas such as the abdomen or the heart, use very light pressure. Circular motions on chest area are best done clockwise; same for the lower abdomen. Do circular motions over rounded areas such as head and joints, and straight strokes on your arms and legs. For arms and legs massage outward from core to extremities. 
Leave the oil on for 20 minutes. Cover yourself. You may leave the oil on for longer but you must cover your head with a cotton scarf or towel and make sure you warm and stay away from cold drafts. The longer the oil is on, the deeper it penetrates. 
It is very important to follow your abhyanga with a relaxing warm bath (Vaidya has formulated lovely herbalized bath pouches) or shower to remove excess oil and toxins that got released through the skin. 
When you want to do an abhyanga, but don’t have time, do the quicky version: massage only arms and legs and your lower back. It is ideal to indulge in a full body massage, at least once a week; but if it is just not happening, it is then best to at least get a quick massage on your limbs and lower back.
Once you’ve completed your abhyanga and bath/shower, finish off by adding a drop of Karna oil in your ear canal (or apply a drop on a q-tip and apply at the entrance of ear canal); and do the same with one of Vaidya nasya oil for each nostril. Oil not only helps keep away impurities but will address dryness due to cooler temperatures, and help protect from airborne contaminants depending on the herbal synergy of the oils.
Precautions: Oil is slippery. Take extra precaution in your shower to avoid slipping after doing an abhyanga. Oils can be combustible on towels, clothing, etc. with oil residue. After washing, do not over-dry or over-heat them in your dryer.
Did you Miss our Shakti Celebratory Course?
Shakti
Empowering Your Divine Creatrix Energy
~ WHO is Shakti
~ WHY does Shakti Energy Matter
~ HOW can you harness it for your bliss
You can access and watch the recorded session and the materials HERE

We are continuing our practicum sesssions virtually online with great shared bliss. Congrats to all the students who are slowly but surely progressing through assessments for each module. Stay tuned for more news always.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Nourish & Replenish Your Eyes – NEW 100% Silver Eyeliner Applicator – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Oct 29, 2020 – #42, Vol 10

October 30, 2020 by Leave a Comment

20% Off this Week
Now more than ever we realize that our eyes ARE our most prized organ since we literally cannot function without the live video streaming technology to get through our daily activities of work, education, communication, and even leisure. In addition, at this time of year, if we don’t initiate a gentle autumnal detox, heat may get trapped in our bodies and throw off the doshic balance in our eyes. The eyes are run by several sub-doshas, but “alochak pitta” is the primary subdosha to address when trying to keep your eyes healthy. Alochak pitta works in tandem with all other four pitta sub-dosha-s that govern our body: pachaka in the stomach, ranjaka in the liver, sadhaka in the heart, and bhrajaka in the skin. Alochaka, however, shares a special relation with ranjaka and sadhaka. In this sense, if one of them those go off, the likelihood of the others going off is greater. We’ve all been trying to stay cool and emotionally composed in these difficult days in addition to having to spend so much more time on our computers zoom-ing away for meetings. So what can you do to keep your eyes healthy? Since we have no choice but to expose them so much more to EMF screens and devices these days?
For one, Vaidya made an exquisite eye-drop. This is a must-have, specially for heavy computer users. If you experience dry, itchy, red eye, use this 3-5 times a day to soothe and refresh your eyes.
Otherwise, there are several things that Vaidya Mishra recommended generally.
Diet: is always key for pacifying subdoshas, and particularly so for pitta. Avoiding pitta-aggravating sour, pungent, acidic foods, salty foods. Add lots of colorful vegetables (beets, carrots, leafy greens), as well as seasonal sweet juicy fruits (pomegrenate, guava, pineapple, papapay) to your diet now. This can work wonders. Also, do not skip or delay meals, as this will help keep pachak pitta in balance in the stomach.
Take care of sadhak and ranjak pitta: taking care of your sadhak pitta and ranjak pitta can work wonders for the care of your eyes. Sadhak pitta governs the heart, and processes our emotions and thoughts. Ranjak pitta governs the liver and processes the food we ingest. Making sure that both sadhaka and ranjaka are cool and balanced will help support the eyes.
All the things that help keep your emotions happy and healthy will keep your sadhak pitta in balance: from garnering positive mental habits to avoiding horror movies; or going to bed on time and making sure you get some laughs and down time daily – you can keep sadhak pitta in check. Ranjak pitta gets affected by mental and emotional predisposition as much as bad food, and stress. So putting attention on managing your life and diet will help keep ranjak pitta in check.
An excellent nourishing classical ayurvedic formula of great help for the eyes is Triphala - whether taken internally or apply transdermally. Triphala is well-known for its three-dosha pacifying, detoxifying and nurturing effect on the eyes. Triphala is made of 3 fruits as its name indicates: Amalaki, Haritaki, and Bhibitaki. Amalaki is a wonder of its own. Whether used transdermally or taken orally, it pacifies ALL pitta subdoshas and supports the body’s alkalinity and boosts immunity. Try it in Vaidya’s Nectar drops’ form, or chyawanprash, or tablets. Otherwis, Vaidya’s Triphala Ghee is made with Mom’s Ghee. Ghee made in the traditional method is particularly considered best for the eyes, because ghee carries a balanced amount of soma and agni. When Triphala is infused in the ghee (apply on the orb of the eyes) it becomes nectar for the eyes! It will then not only nurture but also pacify alochak pitta and support alochak agni.
But there is still more you can do! ALA for the eyes: have you heard of Alpha Lipoic Acid cream which is great for eye care? Due to chronological aging, or the extensive drying effect of EMF on the eyes, the circulation of blood to the optic nerve and retina gets slowed down. Alpha Lipoic Acid has been shown to have the specific beneficial ability to enhance and support blood supply to nerves endings. The eyes being an agneya organ (fiery and hot), ALA is ideal for soothing without overheating or stimulating the eyes further even as it enhances blood flow and circulation. Ideally, if you have tired sore eyes, it is great to do the marma protocol at night with SVA Triphala ghee, and then, in the morning, do the marma treatment with the ALA cream. The ALA cream is also a great cream to use for eye care and eye marma massage, as it works like a gentle non-greasy facial cream base. You can do the eye marma massage with ALA and then continue your usual SVA facial marma massage with Lalita’s Facial oil or Age-defying cream.
Finally, minimize the use of toxic chemically ladden make-up items such as eyeliners, and eyeshadows, etc. If you love Vaidya Mishra’s eyeliner, you will love it even more in its new format.
Now, you can experience the benefits of our traditional ayurvedic eyeliner with the exquisite and beneficial properties of a silver container and applicator – this is a new item with limited stock! Silver is a prized metal in ayurveda that helps pacify heat in the body. Using the eyeliner paste housed in a pure silver container and with silver applicator will carry further cooling nurturing benefits of the silver for the eyes. Your agneya eyes will love the cooling, soothing, nurturing treatment benefits of this applicator.
Last but never least – indulge your eyes in a vedic sound-bath! Play Vaidya Mishra’s Eyes’ Mantra to help re-align your eyes’ health vibrationally through sound frequency. You can keep this mantra playing 24/7 on low volume in your workplace or bedroom for a soothing nurturing effect.
Did you Miss our Shakti Celebratory Course?
Shakti
Empowering Your Divine Creatrix Energy
~ WHO is Shakti
~ WHY does Shakti Energy Matter
~ HOW can you harness it for your bliss
You can access and watch the recorded session and the materials HERE

We are continuing our practicum sesssions virtually online with great shared bliss. Congrats to all the students who are slowly but surely progressing through assessments for each module. Stay tuned for more news always.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

SVA as Lifestyle; plus: did you miss the Shakti Workshop? – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Oct 22, 2020 – #41, Vol 10

October 23, 2020 by Leave a Comment

SVA is more than a lifestyle!
The Ayurvedic wisdom of the Shaka lineage extends from diet to daily routine, as well as behavioral guidelines and mental, emotional, and spiritual health. It is a lifestyle in its fullest sense. You can study Vaidya’s writings and take his courses online to find out more. In addition however, many times, we also need the corrective energetic and physical support of plants and herbal formulations. Vaidya created every single product because a patient came asking for help during a consult. The quality and purity of herbs and formulations he sought to recommend was not available, so he had to make them available himself. From spice blends to support metabolism and digestion, to herbal teas that help with immunity or sleep, or transdermal creams to help with muscle and joint pain, or transmucosal drops for more refined delivery, to 100% natural incense and personal body care soaps and cleansers. ALL of Vaidya Mishra’s exquisite SVA formulations are meant to support you on your journey towards the proper care of the body (heart, mind, and senses) so the spirit can attain its ultimate blissful destination.
Our clients know and appreciate this. We do not solicit testimonials but welcome them. And we receive countless every week. We are happy to continue our work making these pranic formulations available to you, even in these trying times.
This Navaratri, we are grateful for all the beautiful knowledge and unique formulations Vaidya Mishra put together to help us maintain our mental, emotional, and physical health and grow in our spiritual practice. May his spirit always guide us to greater balance and bliss through SV Ayurveda.
Wishing you all a blessed Navaratri…

What’s in the cream? 
Boswellia (Boswellia serrata): Anti-inflammatory that is cooling. Balances the heat of Guggulu
Turmeric (Curcuma longa): Anti-inflammatory (product contains active nano-particles); Guggul (Commiphora Mukul): Anti-inflammatory; Wintergreen (Pyrola minor): Vehicle to open the channels; Peppermint (Mentha piperita): Soothing channel opener; Capsicum: Strong channel opener; Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata): Aromatic channel opener; Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis): Anti-oxidant; DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated licorice): Cooling, balances heat in the formula; Chaste-tree (Vitex negundo): Long term anti-inflammatory - opens the channels, removes ama & amavisha via the skin; 
Parijat leaf (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) – nourishes bones and pacifies nerve irritation; Camphor – great channel-opener and a delivery vehicle; Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans): Deeper delivery vehicle to asthi (bones); Spearmint: delivery vehicle; Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia): delivery vehicle; Tea Tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia): Strong delivery vehicle. In a base of Beeswax, Jojoba oil, Shea Butter & Vegetable Glycerin.
What does SV Ayurveda say about Hair? 
The hair is a mala (waste product) of asthi dhatu (bone tissue) produced during the transformation of meda (fat tissue) into bone. For this reason, care for the fat and bone are important to maintain healthy, lustrous hair. Vaidya Mishra’s Soma Cal Capsules, Soma Cal HMN drops, and Praval PanchAmrit are an easy way to support healthy bones so that your hair looks naturally beautiful. Besides supplying the bones with bio-active intelligent calcium, healthy hair requires other measures from the inside. A good diet and routine and stress reduction are keys to hair health. When the body’s pH is low the high acidity eats the hair follicles. The best way to raise your body’s pH is to follow Vaidya Mishra’s tips for diet as medicine and to get to bed early on a regular basis. You also need to care for your liver, because when it is toxic and acidic the blood becomes acidic too, ultimately damaging the hair follicles. 
For internal use, Vaidya Mishra has formulated Lustrous Hair Capsules with herbs that support healthy hair and scalp. It includes Bringaraj - an ingredient in the shampoo and conditioner. This is one of the best herbs for making the liver more intelligent and detoxifying the acidic toxins that can attack the follicles.  

more testimonials from happy SVA clients
Did you Miss our Shakti Celebratory Course?
Join us for a 2 hr workshop on
Shakti
Empowering Your Divine Creatrix Energy
WHO is Shakti
WHY does Shakti Energy Matter
HOW can you harness it for your bliss
You can access and watch the recorded session and the materials HERE

We are continuing our practicum sesssions virtually online. Stay tuned for more always.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Garcinia Thakra Recipe: Discover the Wonders of Vrikshamla; plus: Enliven the Shakti Within – a Workshop! – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Oct 15, 2020 – #40, Vol 10

October 16, 2020 by Leave a Comment

on sale this week at 20% Off
Are You Ready?!
Are You Ready ~ for Garcinia?
It’s not what you think – but so so much more! Hailed as the “holy grail of weight loss” you can easily find it in in capsule form in Health Food Stores. Taking Garcinia as a supplement is another fad where people also miss out on its wonderful tangy taste and so many other properties that can only come when you consume the whole fruit – or as a powder – in your food or as a drink. 

Garcinia cambogia is a small, sweet, exotic fruit native to South India and Southeast Asia that has garnered a lot of attention of late as a popular natural weight loss aid. In Asia, mothers have long used the dried Garcinia rinds for chutneys or curries, and sometimes as an aid for stomach problems. But in the late 1960s, scientists identified a substance in the rind of the fruit called hydroxycitric acid, or HCA, which has made it a revolutionary supplement, currently still a rage in America, Japan, Europe, and other western countries – ever since it aired on the Dr Oz show in late 2012. Its active ingredient, a derivative of citric acid, called hydrocytric acid or HCA, hinders the work of citrate lyase in the body. Citrate lyase is the enzyme responsible for changing carbohydrates into fatty acids. By halting the carbohydrate conversion process, HCA blocks fat and produces weight loss.
But hear this: HCA has also been found to be a serotonin booster – this brain chemical regulates mood, appetite and sleep. Elevated levels tend to curb hunger and eliminate food cravings. By lifting depression, serotonin reduces the emotional eating that leads to overweight. Do you love it already? But wait there’s more!

What does Ayurveda say about this fruit? 
Ayurveda reminds us that for total health we need to consume food ingredients that balance all the dosha-s or tissues, “samadoshaha,” and enhance metabolism overall in the body in a balanced way, in Sanskrit “samagnischa.” The Garcinia fruit carries these 2 highly desirable properties in addition to many more. It is because of these that it helps clean the fat tissue and can result in weight loss. It is because it is good for overall total metabolism and a toxin free body that it can help individuals who are trying to detox their fat tissue. And there is an added bonus here as well, because when Garcinia supports the fat tissue, it is also supporting the bone tissue since good fat is food for the bone tissue.
Garcinia indica – also known as Garcinia cambogia (“vrikshamla” in Sanskrit) – is mentioned in the ayurvedic “nighantu”-s (or glossaries) as a vata and kapha dosha pacifying dravya or food ingredient.

It is known to enhance absorption due to its thermogenic potency; to sharpen the taste buds, clearing away ama or toxic build-up in the oral cavity; and to make the body lighter because it carries the following 3 rasa-s or tastes: amla (sour), katu (pungent) and kashai (astringent). These 3 rasa-s enhance metabolism in general. More specifically, the amla rasa or sour taste also enhances and supports protein metabolism because it enhances agni in the mamsa dhatu or muscle tissue. In addition, the 3 rasa-s together help clear and unclog the channels too.
Garcinia’s first property is “amla” or sour, and we know that the sour taste is “agneya” or thermogenic. Due to this property, it pacifies kapha in all the 7 “dhatu”-s or tissues. But it also pacifies thirst because it pacifies vata in the stomach, samana vata, as well as in the chest or udana vata. In general, it is a wonderful fruit that balances the entire stomach and all the dosha-s in the stomach, enhancing coordination amongst them all: samana vata, pachak pitta, and kledak kapha – the 3 principles which support digestion: a) movement of space and air in the stomach; b) enzymatic levels; c) lubrication levels. When the stomach dosha-s are balanced, so many aspects of overall health also follow suit.
But yet another great attribute of this fruit is that it helps produce ama free rasa dhatu, or the very first dhatu or tissue that gets formed after we eat. In general, many health imbalances arise from just this, that an individual makes ama or toxins from the food they ingest. Rasa dhatu is the foundation for all the dhatus, and if it is free of toxins and balanced, all the other tissues that get built on this foundational dhatu or tissue will also be more balanced.
In this sense, Garcinia or “vrikshamla” is a very balanced and balancing fruit with unique properties that optimize the healing processes in the body. Discover the full taste of Garcinia by trying Vaidya Mishra’s Garcinia Tea. The chutney is most delectable and can be added to soups, or eaten with your meals as a side. The three masala blends are also a delicious and easy way to incorporate this divine fruit into your diet. But there is one more even more easy and delicious way of sampling and enjoying this fruit.

Next Level Thakra or Fresh Buttermilk
with Garcinia
The benefits of friendly bacteria or probiotics have been recognized in Ayurveda for thousands of years. In the SVA lineage they are called yogini-s. Here is a verse from Bhav Mishra’s Bhav Prakash that discusses the properties of thakra or buttermilk: 
It’s grahi: so it enhances absorption. That is: it enhances the absorption of minerals and nutrients. It has two main rasa-s or tastes: kashay (astringent) and amla (sour), and its vipak or post-digestive effect is madhur. These properties create lightness in the body, particularly since its potency is warm and it enhances the digestive and metabolic fires. Thakra or fresh buttermilk also increases the reproductive fluids; it enhances the pranic flow in the cellular system; and it pacifies cellular vata. When people have chronic mal-absorption of any kind, it’s the best healthy addition to the diet, because of the unique combination of properties, nurturing yet creating lightness in the body.
Garcinia Thakra Recipe
Vaidya Mishra recommends making fresh buttermilk by combining 20% fresh yogurt with 80% water (room temperature). Blend for 5 minutes in the blender, take out the foam top, add ½ tsp Garcinia chutney and blend for another 2-3 minutes. Enjoy!
Make sure to drink only with lunch not dinner. Best is to have a sip and then a bite. Remember: the combination of this thakra and Garcinia as a chutney is the best way to balance weight – not just to lose weight, but to maintain a balanced overall weight. For balanced tissues and metabolism all throughout your body.

Join us for a 2 hr workshop on
Shakti
Empowering Your Divine Creatrix Energy
WHO is Shakti
WHY does Shakti Energy Matter
HOW can you harness it for your bliss
in this mini-workshop you will also learn vedic chants and their meaning
Join us
Thursday October 22
3-5 pm Pacific Time
no fee. this workshop is on donation basis. All donations – when any – will be offered at a Vedic Sound Ceremony in Malibu CA on Oct 24, 2020
or email us
We had a wonderful informational session before we get ready for our upcoming hands-on assessment sessions. We inspired each other and are all looking forward to continuing learning together. Happy Marma-ing!
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Fruity Tangy Chutneys & Preserves to Balance your Meals; plus: Enliven the Shakti Within – a Workshop! – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Oct 8, 2020 – #39, Vol 10

October 9, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Did you know that consuming sweet juicy raw fruits in Autumn is not a good idea? Some exceptions are of course to be considered – pomegranates, pineapple, papaya, and guava-s are ok but other fruits full of soma such as mangoes, cherries, melons, etc, are not ok. When the weather cools off in Autumn, our digestive fire undergoes a change in response to the climate and we have to adjust our diet accordingly. If we don’t and we continue to eat things that are full of soma, such as heavy fruits, our bodies will end up making “ama” – a cold heavy bi-product of semi-digested food. Ama can cause body aches, stiffness, foggy mind, heavy heart, and if left unchecked, can also result in other chronic inflammatory conditions. But come on, who doesn’t want to continue eating juicy sweet fruits into the Autumn? Specially if you are still craving them. Is your craving misleading you then? Not necessarily. That’s why Ayurveda teaches us to cook our fruits. In the summertime, it’s ok to relish them raw, but come Autumn, better to cook them with a piece of cinnamon, or a couple of cloves. Cooking is – at its most basic – the simple act of adding agni to support digestion. You are heating/cooking therefore making more digestible. And we know that this is the best way of consuming fruits when the weather cools off. A little cooking goes a long way. But you can take things to the next level and add spices and condiments. Your imagination is the limit to the preserves, chutneys, jams, that you can make. 
The best part then is that it’s not reserved for breakfast unlike what we have been bred to think. In the vedic tradition, we have special preparations where fruits can be enjoyed along with your main meal at lunch time, or with your dinner as well. Ayurvedic chutneys and preserves may contain some spices or be prepared in such as way so you can enjoy them with any meal any time of day 365 days a year. 
Vaidya Mishra made these delicious preserves and chutneys to help us balance our bodies, hearts, and minds! They complement any meal or can be consumed on their own with some crackers. The Amla Tamarind Chutney is an excellent tomato substitute that can be used for cooking stews or with baked fries – tastes like ketchup looks like ketchup but it ain’t ketchup! It’s best with paneer or other proteins, as the amla helps break down protein molecules and the tamarind supports overall digestion. Choose one or get the sampler basket of all. Try one you’ll love them all! We do too! 
Join us for a 2 hr workshop on
Shakti
Empowering Your Divine Creatrix Energy
date & details to be announced next week
no fee. this workshop is on donation basis
Limited Space. Sign up to Reserve.

We had a wonderful informational session before we get ready for our upcoming hands-on assessment sessions. We inspired each other and are all looking forward to continuing learning together. Happy Marma-ing!
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Vegan Shakes & Dumplings to Nourish Your Mind, Heart, & Body – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Oct 2, 2020 – #38, Vol 10

October 2, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Featuring this Week’s Offerings all 20% Off
We do know this already: fresh AND easy to digest protein is not only important to boost our daily immunity and pacify all doshas, but it’s also necessary to help us manage our mental and emotional stress. Ayurveda finally helps us make sense out of what would otherwise accelerate into a vertiginous abyss of passive/aggressive mood swings. You need good food to face stressful situations and times. Now more than ever! But that’s the catch – cooking can be a chore. How to eat well, stay mentally sane and emotionally balanced, and not get physically exhausted from cooking? Make sure you are getting a good daily ration of protein. Protein grounds us, nourishes our bodily tissues, gives us strength and endurance, and supports our agni. For those of us who are not vegetarian, sustainably sourced and ethically farmed chicken and fish are important; for the vegetarians, adding ghee, milk products (fresh cheese, yoghurt, etc) is an important intake of animal protein. If you are vegan however – and we know that soy is NOT an option anymore for so many reasons – it is even more important to make sure you are getting enough protein in your food. This is why Vaidya made available for us these wonderful vegan sources of instant protein – from dumplings (vadi-s), to powders for shakes and dressings, to omg-how-delicious kichdi-s! Best of all all they need is for you to add warm water to be able to consume them. Your imagination is the limit of course for going all fancy and investing a few more minutes, but if you are in need of soothing instant proteinous recipes from dumplings to creamy shakes, then you must try one or all of our offerings. See below for the recipes. Enjoy!
Instant Vegan Savory Protein Shake
Instant Sweet Kulthi Protein Shake for High Pitta People!
DON’T FORGET
2 most important ingredients
you should NEVER skim on

Oils/Fats that Clog and Inflame the Arteries
In America, we have been sensitized for decades to the so-called noxious role that fat and oils play in our body in general, ignoring the fact that the fats and oils we were being fed or pushed to consume were either highly processed or industrially manufactured and toxic. Most of us grew up on vegetable and other poor quality processed cooking oils such as: sunflower, safflower, canola, peanut oil, corn oil, margarine, and other processed fats. Did you know that when you heat these oils for cooking their molecular structure becomes resistant and indigestible much like a plastic molecule, and they easily become blocked and clog your arteries? When you also get calcium deposits on top of this situation, forming plaque, this not only further raises the blood pressure but the arteries get hardened as well. So you then have: inflammation, clogging, and hardening of the arteries.  
Switching to only home-made ghee (or Vaidya’s “Mom’s Ghee”) and olive oil will be the best thing you can do. Fat is what nourishes your brain and so many other functions and organ systems in your body. Eating good quantities of healthy fat daily is your first ayurvedic step towards optimal health.

Salt
Salt is the second most important ingredient in your diet. Much like fats/oil, it’s another ingredient we ingest daily. However, usually the answer or solution has been to completely eliminate or significantly reduce the salt in the diet when there are irregularities with blood pressure, water retention or weight gain, or other imbalances. Ayurveda teaches us that the salty taste is one of the essential six tastes that we need to have on a daily basis for mental and physical balance, so eliminating salt completely is not really the solution even if it is necessary sometimes. But this is what we do need to understand and consider: the highly processed salt available to us in the modern diet is mainly composed of sodium and chloride, which increases the blood pressure over a lifetime. So it is not salt itself which is the culprit, but the kind of salt that you are using. Did you now that in ancient vedic culture, there were more than a dozen different salts to choose from? Vaidya Mishra brought us the best one and he called it “Soma Salt.” This type of salt collected from the Himalayan mountainous rocks is referred to as the “Queen of Salts” in ayurvedic texts. It contains many other minerals, besides sodium and chloride, which also aid in keeping your blood pressure low throughout your life. Soma Salt carries many beneficial properties, in addition to its unique taste. A little pinch is enough to flavor your food without imbalancing your body. My only caution is you do not opt for the pink Himalayan salt variety which is also gathered from the same source but carries different chemical make-up. Even though natural, it is high in sulfur content and may actually have adverse effects as Vaidya also explained. Monitoring your salt intake and switching to a better salt is another essential step towards your healthier regimen. 
Dear Course Participants – we meet next week for our next session – you must have all received the email last week. You will be receiving one more with additional details about upcoming sessions. Namaste!
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Blood Pressure Fluctuations & SVA Guidelines – with Dr Teitelbaum – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Sept. 25, 2020 – #37, Vol 10

September 25, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Featuring this Week’s Offerings all at 20% Off
SVA Guidelines for
Blood Pressure Fluctuations

By Dr Marianne Teitelbaum
If and when your medical doctor finds that you have high blood pressure, you will be prescribed blood pressure medicine and/or diuretics to help manage your symptoms, and you should follow the medical guidelines without exception as these are important life-saving remedies without a doubt. However, with SV Ayurveda, we go beyond the symptoms to look for and address the root cause(s) or “hetu” of any ailment. I have consistently witnessed – in my clinical practice – how following some or all of the guidelines I am about to share with you allows patients to fully address and even reverse diagnosed chronic conditions. Remember that results always depend on individuals because Ayurveda is never a one-size-fits-all science as we all know; but there are so many things we can optimize and correct in our modern diets and lifestyles, that it has now become possible to give general ayurvedic recommendations to correct our culturally induced bad habits – for example, no one benefits from eating toxic ingredients (chemical preservatives or additives) and yet our foods are laden with them; no one should be or over-exerting their body and mind the way they do working long days long hours month after month and yet our lifestyles demand it. When the body shuts down because it can no longer tolerate it we try to flog it back to life with oral supplementation and vitamins further aggravating things by putting pressure on our digestive systems. What can you do? Specifically in the context of regulating your blood pressure? 
There are several reasons why your blood pressure can go high (or low). But most important is to first isolate and address the causative factors. Let’s explore possible culturally induced causative factors as clarified and taught by Vaidya Ramakant Mishra.
The Physical Channels and your Diet
We’ve been conditioned to think that a tablet or supplement is all that’s needed to correct things, but ayurveda teaches us that diet should always be our first and foremost consideration. In this context, it is important to understand the idea of the physical channels and Vaidya taught us a great deal on this topic, revolutionizing our understanding and approach to so many health issues. This is a rarely addressed and frequently ignored aspect of ayurvedic healing in general. The arteries are considered one type of channel, amongst the various vessels that the blood flows through. If these channels shrink down, get clogged or inflamed then blood pressure will go up, much like a garden hose: if you step on it, the pressure will go up inside the hose. Vaidya taught us that there are many simple things we can do. For one, did you know that there are some foods you can avoid that shrink these channels? For example: the nightshade vegetables. This is a very large family of vegetables, and not all carry detrimental properties; however: eggplant, bell peppers, tomatoes and white potatoes that are all nightshades can be highly toxic and clogging to your physical channels when consumed daily regularly. In addition, they contain a molecule of nicotine which makes them highly addictive in addition to being heavy and clogging. They clog the body’s physical channels including the delicate blood vessels, causing blood pressure to rise.
There are other channel-clogging foods not part of the nightshades that you should also consider minimizing or altogether avoiding. Such as: chocolate; cacao; unfermented soy (tofu, soy milk, edamame); hard aged cheeses; nut butters (peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, almond butter, etc.); winter squashes (acorn, spaghetti, pumpkin); large bananas; mushrooms; and red heavy or processed meats (red meat, pork, sausage, bacon, pepperoni, bacon, for example).
Finally, avoid the foods which “burn” or acidify the channels, such as: onions, garlic and vinegar. Some apple cider vinegar used in conjunction with some ingredients and in balance is ok. If you desire a sour taste, use fresh squeezed lime on the food as it turns alkaline quickly once ingested. Or use fresh Thai tamarind pods. 
Oils/Fats that Clog and Inflame the Arteries
In America, we have been sensitivised for decades to the so-called noxious role that fat and oils play in our body in general, ignoring the fact that the fats and oils we were being fed or pushed to consume were either highly processed or industrially manufactured and toxic. Most of us grew up on vegetable and other poor quality processed cooking oils such as: sunflower, safflower, canola, peanut oil, corn oil, margarine, and other processed fats. Did you know that when you heat these oils for cooking their molecular structure becomes resistent and indigestible much like a plastic molecule, and they easily become blocked and clog your arteries? When you also get calcium deposits on top of this situation, forming plaque, this not only further raises the blood pressure but the arteries get hardened as well. So you then have: inflammation, clogging, and hardening of the arteries.  
We have several tools which can scrape this plaque out of the walls of the arteries but you should be under the care of one of Vaidya Mishra’s trained expert doctors to go through this. We have had several patients reverse their clogged arteries (as seen on a CT scan of the arteries called a “calcium score” using Vaidya’s tremendously effective therapies.
In addition to these remedies, switching to only home-made ghee (or Vaidya’s “Mom’s Ghee”) and olive oil will be the best thing you can do to get started. 
Salt
Salt is a very important factor in the context of blood pressure as it has already been shown by modern science. Not least of all because like fats/oil, it’s another ingredient we ingest daily. However, usually the answer or solution has been to completely eliminate or significantly reduce the salt in the diet when there are irregularities with blood pressure. Ayurveda teaches us that the salty taste is one of the essential six tastes that we need to have on a daily basis for mental and physical balance, so eliminating salt completely is not really the solution even if it is necessary sometimes. But this is what we do need to understand and consider: the highly processed salt available to us in the modern diet is mainly composed of sodium and chloride, which increases the blood pressure over a lifetime. So it is not salt itself which is the culprit, but the kind of salt that you are using. Did you now that in ancient vedic culture, there were more than a dozen different salts to choose from? Vaidya Mishra brought us the best one and he called it “Soma Salt.” This type of salt collected from the Himalayan mountainous rocks is referred to as the “Queen of Salts” in ayurvedic texts. It contains many other minerals, besides sodium and chloride, which also aid in keeping your blood pressure low throughout your life. Soma Salt carries many beneficial properties, in addition to its unique taste. A little pinch is enough to flavor your food without imbalancing your body. My only caution is you do not opt for the pink Himalayan salt variety which is also gathered from the same source but carries different chemical make-up. Even though natural, it is high in sulfur content and may actually have adverse effects as Vaidya also explained. Monitoring your salt intake and switching to a better salt is another essential step towards your healthier regimen. 
Obesity
Keeping healthy eating habits – by becoming aware and adopting some or all of the above points I mentioned - to keep your weight down is essential, as high body weight can cause high blood pressure almost automatically. The body and the heart have to work harder and more forcefully to address the extra weight, resulting in elevated pressure. Many of my patients’ blood pressure came down just by losing weight, without having to resort to any herbs or supplementation. Speaking of which, my next point is a central one once you’ve addressed all the dietary aspects.
Magnesium Transdermally: Cream & Roll-On
I have a one-hour free class on my website here . I invite you to listen to this in-depth explanation of the role magnesium plays in our bodies. You will understand why even mainstream medicine uses magnesium in hospitals and emergency rooms to lower blood pressure.
In a nutshell, here is how it goes. The arteries have muscles in one of their three layers to pump the blood through, and there is another layer containing elastin. This elastic layer is like a rubber band, which allows the artery to expand and contract as the blood is pumped through.
Magnesium resides in both layers, allowing the arterial muscles to both relax and then to expand as the heart beats. So we always want to keep our magnesium levels up. Stress, pharmaceuticals and other negative influences can deplete our bodies of magnesium, then the arteries lose their elasticity allowing the blood pressure to go up.
Magnesium sits on the outside of every cell, preventing calcium from entering. Calcium belongs in our teeth and bones, but not on the insides of our arteries. Once the magnesium goes low, calcium takes advantage and begins to accumulate on the inside of the arteries, creating hardening of the arteries, which is very easy to feel in one’s pulse. As one uses magnesium, the arteries soften up, causing more elasticity — this is very easy to feel in the pulse and very rewarding as you see your older patients develop the very soft arteries commonly seen in the younger patients.
Of course, we recommend the use of transdermal magnesium, either through creams, rolls-ons or oil massages since the skin will absorb what it needs. When taken orally it can sometimes go through the digestive tract too quickly preventing its absorption. Use the magnesium transdermally daily. Apply Magnesium Roll-on down the spine twice a day. The magnesium is very good for blood pressure, and it’s virtually non-existent in the diet. Again, you don’t want to take magnesium orally as it does not digest well. I would also recommend a Magnesium Oil massage daily — use Pitta Magnesium oil if there is some pitta there (right now at the end of pitta season specially, pitta has accumulated in all of us and it alone can create high blood pressure as the hot blood pounds against the walls of the arteries. As we get more into the colder weather, you can use the Vata Oil with Magnesium and Vitamin D. Magnesium can cool the blood and as I mentioned it will help soften up the stiffness in the arteries as well. Transmucosally, add the BP nectar drops — 10 drops in 1 cup room temp Fiji Water — drink it down and do that twice a day. If that doesn’t bring it down within the next two weeks, do this 3x a day. You can also do SVA marma therapy using the BP Cream.
Stress…
Last but never least, we all know how stress can elevate the blood pressure: when we’re stressed our adrenal glands secrete cortisol which shrinks down the channels, allowing the blood pressure to go up. This is why we use Ashwagandha, which prevents the release of too much cortisol when we’re under stress. Cortisol also dumps magnesium out of the body, causing the blood pressure to go up as the arteries lose their elasticity and harden. Again, best to use transdermal Ashwagandha as it is a heating herb as per SVA and Vaidya Mishra, and can backfire. Too many people are orally supplementing with large doses of ashwagandha and other ayurvedic spices and herbs (need I mention the harmful Turmeric capsule fad?) and either not getting results or making themselves more sick. They do not understand why they don’t get the results they are seeking or worse, end up more sick. This is exactly why Vaidya Mishra made the alternative herbal delivery products: transdermal and transmucosal. Transdermally as I said you cannot overdose. Transmucosally you will also get the benefits down to the deepest tissues safely and fast. Ashwagandha in drops or cream form is what I recommend. Otherwise, and this brings my to the final consideration, you will experience what we refer to as “dosha imbalance” in ayurveda. This will result from your intake of ayurvedic herbs/supplements in large doses or wrong combinations, or inability to digest properply. But that’s another topic altogether as well. 
Vata/Pitta/Kapha Dosha in Relation to Your Arteries
Learning about vata, pitta and kapha and how these three doshas also play a major role in keeping our blood pressure down is key. High vata is identified as shrinkage in the channels; high pitta is identified as blood pounding against the walls of the arteries as the blood gets hotter and hotter; and high kapha, when left unchecked is the clogging in the arteries that also may cause high blood pressure. Of course, there are numerous ways to treat these doshas, including herbs, diet, daily routine and cleansing — you can listen to the lecture on my website which gives a thorough explanation on what these terms mean and how to keep them balanced using SVA protocols and methods.
So in short, these are just brief introductory foundational things you can do to help manage your blood pressure fluctuations. However, following these guidelines may give you additional benefits that you might not have expected, in other aspects of your overall health. Diet, as Vaidya Mishra always emphasized, is one of the most important pillars of Ayurveda, no matter which way we look at things. And with the refined knowledge of the SV ayurvedic diet and guidance, it becomes easier and encouraging to adopt better habits. 
Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum
Cinnaminson, NJ
To make an appointment for over-the-phone consult, call:
856-786-3330
We had our first session yesterday – thank you to all for your patience and participation as we ventured into the uncharted online live format. It was a great success. Our future dates will be announced via email.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Guduchi, Glutathione, & SVA Detox – with Marie Amram; plus Rehdyration Drink Recipe! – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Sept. 17, 2020 – #36, Vol 10

September 18, 2020 by Leave a Comment

What’s the relationship between
Glutathione & Guduchi, and Rehydration in SVA Detox?
By Marie Amram
Certified SVA Educator & Expert
Mid-September… Here in Canada, geese can already be heard overhead, as they gather before their migration to the South. Nights become noticeably cooler and humid, plant growth is slowing down, leaves start falling and trees generously offer their nuts and berries. Sap will gently be retrieved downward into the root systems. 
As you well know, Ayurveda reminds us that we need to follow the tide, that we also have stuff to let go, things to do before folding in for the Winter. 
In the vedic tradition, the Spring and Summer Sun is said to be “bright”, as Solar Prana is predominant in the atmosphere and it promotes physical growth and external creativity in the outer world, fueling all life with dynamic intelligence. During Fall and Winter the Sun is called “dark”. It doesn’t mean that it is “bad”, but that Solar Agni predominant Prana is less in the atmosphere, as Space/Air or Marut Prana becomes predominant and pushes heat and life creative energies “inward.” 
How does this affect us? I remember how Vaidya always referred to the body’s intelligence saying: our physical and vibrational channels are alive, intelligent, and are constantly responding and adjusting to changes in the environment, and even to emotions. 
During the warm season, metabolic heat (Pitta) increases in response to rising temperatures and flows freely all over the body and in our limbs and expresses itself through our skin too: our channels are wide open and swell with more fluids, and are buzzing with activity.
But during the Winter or Vata season, our physical channels shrink in response to cooler temperatures and metabolic heat is trapped within and maintained primarily around internal organs. Fall is the transition, the Sandhi, or gap during which the change of tides happens. Just like in the trees, our channels naturally tighten with cooler temperatures and wind. In order to stay healthy into the next season, it is important to release any excess accumulations before the detox pathways shrink in response to cooler climate. This is why Autumnal detox is highly recommended to help release the excess heat and toxins accumulated over the Summer, so our organs do not become aggravated by them during the Winter. In this way, we support Mother Nature’s cycles that impact our bodies. 
But if our channels and tissues are clogged, the excess summer and we continue a heavy clogging diet intoAutumn, further trapping in heat and toxins in our channels, we will contract what is referred to as the common “seasonal sniffles” or additional imbalances based on our body’s propensities. This is why our system may need support for a proper seasonal detoxification and a smoother Winter. 
As you know, Vaidya taught us how to gently support the natural cleansing movement in Spring and Fall, with meal plans and herbal teas that assist rather than forcefully promote detoxification. If you do not have a protocol in place, you can at least do the following”
  • Reduce eliminate channel clogging foods: 
a) left-overs
b) channel-cloggers: eggplant, potato, tomato, bell-pepper
c) heavy foods: red meats, breads, aged cheese, canned/preserved foods
  • Mind your meals: 
  1. do not eat while your mind is engaged reading/watching tv/listening to intense conversations, or while driving!
  2. do not skip or delay meals
  3. eat in a friendly calm, clean environment
  4. sit for 10 minutes with eyes closed (you can direct your attention to your stomach and breathing) after eating
Whether we choose the one day cleanse or a whole week-end cleansing protocol, Vaidya always reminded us to prepare a rehydration drink in the morning, ahead of time, and drink it along the day, before the body would even run the risk of losing any Soma during the cleanse or after a more active bowel movement. Losing deep Soma would weaken the ability of the body to maintain homeostasis and buffer inflammation. 
The other day I was reminded of Vaidya’s wise advice, and understood it more clearly as I was browsing an article on the bitter taste. The article was on how dark bitters may interfere with blood pressure medications, because they may significantly clear and thin the blood. 
 
  • The higher potassium level contained in dark green vegetables helps the kidneys flush more salt out of the lymph and blood stream. Less salt in the blood means that the blood vessels will be able to let go more of their water in the kidneys, which is then flushed in urine. This relaxes the pressure inside the blood vessels.
  • On the cellular level, the bitter taste acts on cells as a ‘gate opener”, which allows cells to flush more toxins, together with some of their excess salt, toxins, and some of their fluids and fat content, electrolytes, etc.
This means that during a cleanse that uses added bitterness, more fluids and fat are flushed out of the body along the day. While this may sound very helpful for a high Kapha physiology, to help manage excess fluid retention and weight, it could lead to deep dehydration when there are Vata or Pitta conditions. As Vaidya always emphasized, we don’t want to help a system while negatively affecting another. We wouldn’t want to nicely detoxify while badly affecting the homeostasis at the same time!
Vata and bitter – this also illustrates why dark vegetables and strong bitter herbs are said to aggravate Vata and should be used in moderation when Vata is high: because of low supplies in the Vata physiology, the effect of excess bitterness would be dehydration (loss of deep Soma), loss of essential fat and of important electrolytes. When planning for a cleanse, a person with high Vata would rather choose lighter greens like baby spinach leaves, asparagus, beet greens (paler ones), pale swiss chards, and use toxin binders in the meal and enough fat.
Pitta and bitter – bitter vegetables and herbs are usually praised as excellent for Pitta. However – and this is difficult for the public to understand – bitterness in excess can aggravate Pitta and the liver by initiating too much detox. Here again, SVA Ayurveda brings a more refined understanding, which allows for a better management of inflammatory conditions. As we saw above, high bitterness enhances the flushing of fluids and electrolytes from channels, organs, cells. What does this mean for an individual with inflammation and a hot and aggravated liver?
A hot and aggravated liver will usually be depleted of the liver’s #1 antioxidant Glutathione, which is essential to safely neutralize toxins; maintain all liver channels and functions optimal; maintain bile fluidity; repair DNA strands, etc. Glutathione molecules are part of what Soma Prana is able to stimulate in the physiology. 
The body can produce Glutathione, but it is also found ready-made in vegetables like zucchini, okras, opo gourd. Glutathione levels are also higher when fluid homeostasis is good. Then inflammation can be dealt with more easily. When the liver feels cooler, overall body inflammation, heat and reactivity goes down as well.
In that context, the excess flushing of fluids, and electrolytes by a strong bitter taste would promote a lack of Soma, of fluids and Glutathione. It would promote heat and oxidative stress in the liver and overall. Does this make sense? Understanding how to manage the bitter taste in my daily diet and during detox days was very helpful during my recovery from systemic infection a few years ago. 
Therefore, individuals with a high Pitta imbalance and hot liver will benefit from using the paler greens rather than darker, more bitter ones, until their liver is better. (i.e. baby spinach, asparagus, beet greens (paler ones), pale swiss chards, and use toxin binders and enough fat). If they use Moringa, be it in great moderation in specific detox meals or use Vaidya Mishra’s mixes that are highly balanced.. They’ll want to be cautious when cooking karela making sure it’s a balanced recipe. Strong bitter herbs (i.e. dandelion, milk thistle, St John’s Wort) are highly discouraged.
And as Dr Teitelbaum just explained in last week’s SVA newsletter, the Herbal Memory Nectars will be better for them than the crude herbs – for the same reasons.
Some of the darker and more bitter greens are: moringa, drumsticks, arugula. darker kale, collard greens, darker beet greens, darker Swiss chards, broccoli rabe, endives, dandelion leaves, watercress, spinach.
Happy Autumn to all. 
As a reminder, here is Vaidya Mishra’s SVA
Rehydration Drink Recipe
  • 2 cups unchilled spring water
  • 1/2 lime juice (add lime progressively and taste. Some limes are sweeter than others)
  • 1 tsp chopped fresh mint leaves 
  • 1-2 tsp organic sucanat sugar or other natural sugar (kapha types can add raw honey)
  • A pinch of Soma Salt – if Soma Salt is not available you make skip the salt or add a very minimal tiny pinch of whichever salt you have available. 
  • A pinch of lightly toasted and ground whole cumin seeds
Stir well. Let sit for 5 minutes, strain and then sip slowly mid-morning and mid-afternoon during your cleansing day, to help maintain or restore deep fluid balance.
 
P.S. – The drink should not taste predominantly sour. Having sourness, sweetness and herbal flavors in balance will provide the desired effect: the somagenic aspect of lime, and sugar will cell walls to relax and open for more Soma; while the agneya aspect in lime, salt, cumin, mint will promote a more active passage through the cell walls.
About Marie Amram
She grew up on the beautiful beaches of Brittany, under gorgeous blue and grey skies.
For most of her life, she suffered from high acidity, indigestion and debilitating migraine headaches. Although she was a long time meditator and vegetarian and paid attention to her diet, she wasn’t able to restore her own health. 
After going through a burn out, she set out to learn how to manage her inflammatory condition. An article by Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra on Ph balance “Balancing the balancing factor” inspired her to learn more about SV Ayurveda. 
Applying the principles of SV Ayurveda brought drastic changes in her body, allowing her nervous system to strengthen and recover. A better Ph balance means less metabolic oxidation and a steadier heart and mind. Her ability to be mindful, study and memorize increased. Her senses and her meditations grew more refined. It felt like being reborn and given a new chance at life, albeit in a more authentic way.
During these years of “time out” she realized how the modalities of Ayurveda have a deeper effect than we know, enlivening connectivity and coherence between the different systems: body, heart, mind and Self.  
She is feeling very grateful to Vaidya Kant Mishra for the deep rooted knowledge he generously and so patiently shared with the world during his whole life.
Marie Amram offers SV Ayurveda health & diet consultations on Skype. She is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
We had our first session yesterday – thank you to all for your patience and participation as we ventured into the uncharted online live format. It was a great success. Our future dates will be announced via email.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Mind the Gap(s): Herbal Drops for THE Alternative SVA Healing Experience – with Dr Teitelbaum! – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Sept. 10, 2020 – #35, Vol 10

September 11, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Note: All drops available on www.chandika.com are “over-the-counter”potency. Please call us and reference your SVA doctor to purchase the Maha-Drops over-the-phone
One of Vaidya Mishra’s many contributions to the science and art of Ayurveda, are the “Herbal-Memory Nectar Drops.” These are not herbal preparations to support memory and cognitive faculties; they are concentrated herbal drops that carry the “herbal blue-print or memory” of the original plant in its pranic intact form. Highly concentrated, sustainable, and free from alcohol 100%, they are very subtle yet very potent herbal blends or single herbs to help you on your healing journey towards total yogic bliss and balance. 1-3 drops in a glass of water per day is all it takes. Find out more in Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum’s article below.
Mind the Gaps! 
In our good-willed efforts to treat the human physiology we often overlook the unseen forces behind the scenes which are quietly yet powerfully conducting every process in our bodies. Since these forces cannot be seen on an MRI or an X-ray, or any diagnostic tool for that matter, they are ignored; yet they remain the major players for a smoothly functioning physiology. Known as the “gaps” or “sandhis” in Ayurveda, these spaces between the tissues and cellular systems are bustling with vibrational energy which ultimately forms the physical body. For example, after you eat, digest and assimilate your food, it begins its long journey through the body’s 7 tissues: starting with the blood plasma, then onto the blood tissue, the muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow, and finally the reproductive fluids. Thus each of the body’s 7 tissues systematically transform from one tissue to the next. For example, the fat tissue becomes the raw material for and transforms into the bone. 
   But how does this transformation happen? 
   It happens in the vibrational gaps in between these tissues where all the elements of nature reside: space, air, fire, water and earth. Each of these elements, starting with space (or Akasha), which is pure vibration, sequentially transforms into the next tissue, becoming more solid as we go from the space element to eventually the earth element, the most dense element of all. And in these gaps are the agnis, or metabolic fires, which are responsible for igniting and materializing all these transformational changes. 
 So how does this affect us? Let me give you a concrete example: my teacher, ayurvedic healer, author, and educator Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra, took the herb and processed it pranically to extract its vibrational quality – or the “intelligence and know-how” of its molecular make-up. This allows the herb to have its desired effect in the body faster and safer. He added this essence to a base of vegetable extracted kosher glycerin. One to two drops deliver a “hundred times” the amount of the herb’s potency in its raw state. We add these drops to a glass of water and sip on throughout the day. The water becomes charged and suffused with the vibrational aspect – finer than the finest physical molecule – of the herb now. When ingested it travels immediately into the gaps, instantly creating transformational change in these very important sandhis where the whole physiology is always being regenerated.  
With these drops do is initiate great change at this deepest fundamental level of the human physiology. Here’s an even more concrete example.
   I just spoke with a patient today who has a diseased liver and her liver enzymes have been off the charts for years. Her doctors just keep ordering bloodwork to monitor everything but the numbers never change. I gave her 3 of Vaidya’s Nectar drops for addressing the liver. She was somewhat skeptical when I told her they were safe because they carried no physical herbs, rather just the pure vibration or “intelligence” of the herb. She wanted to know why we couldn’t use herbal tablets or teas. I told her that her liver was too weak to metabolize those crude herbs, and that with the nectar drops, the intelligence of the herb would be taken deep into her cellular system, to the gaps, to effect the quickest and deepest change. She reluctantly agreed and continued to take both these drops and others as well for her weak thyroid – which she had been taking thyroid hormone for.
   She called me today, excitedly replying to me, through tears of joy, how she just got her bloodwork back. For the first time in years her liver enzymes were normal and her endocrinologist said that her thyroid was suddenly functioning so well she could slowly start weaning off her thyroid medicine.This is an excellent example of how we can truly change our physical bodies by directing our healing efforts towards these vibrational gaps. This is why Vaidya Mishra created these drops. The human physiology is overtaxed with toxic chemicals in our food and environment, a bad diet, and too much stress. All these factors diminish our body’s capacity to digest and metabolize not just food, but healing herbs. These “nectar drops” as Vaidya called them, deliver the healing properties of t hese herbs and bypass our overtaxed systems. In addition, this is also why happy thoughts make you healthy, and negative thoughts can make you sick, as those vibrations travel deep into our cellular systems, and also why prayers, mantras and chanting work, as those vibrational sounds have an impact on every gap in the entire cellular system. These drops are safe and effective for all, and they can create deep transformations, specially if you stay on top of your diet, routine, and mental and heart health.
  My upcoming book will discuss this in greater detail – can’t wait to share it all with you!
For more information or to schedule an ayurvedic consultation with Dr Teitelbaum, call: 1.856.786.3330.
We will be resuming our Marma Course to offer the practicum sessions in a new on-line format. All students who are signed will receive notification via email. We look forward to continuing our SVA Marma education with you all.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Tridoshic Coconut & Curry Leaf Chutney? Yes Please! – your SV Ayurveda Newsletter Sept 3, 2020 – #34, Vol 10

September 3, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Our fulfillment and customer care center will close at 1pm PDT on Friday Sept 4.
We reopen Tuesday Sept 8, 2020, 9am PDT
Love coconut but don’t know how to eat it? Coconut is cold and full of soma and even though we crave it we may not be able to fully digest it regardless of which body type you are, unless your digestive fire, pachak agni, is fully on. This Coconut Curry Leaf Chutney was one of Vaidya Mishra’s favorites and it supports agni! It takes 5 minutes to make and will give you extended bliss through a hot summer day. In addition, we have once more supplied the details on Mom’s Masala – a highly versatile delicious tridoshic balancing blend of spices that adds flavor and balance to this or any other chutney. Mom’s Masala will add layers of subtle flavors to your meals – soups, salads, lassi, fruit, and more!
Vaidya shared this wonderful spice mix (masala) with us as it was his very favorite – his mother used it. It is not pungent, it is tridoshic, and what’s best, it is pre-toasted so you can use it with or without cooking. Plus, no need to add salt – already contains Soma Salt. So you can just sprinkle this delicious masala not only to add more flavor to your food, whether it’s a salad or a soup or rice or protein, but you can also sprinkle it on top of your fruit slices. It’s a highly versatile masala, with layered flavors. It will not overtake your meal with a strong “curry” smell. It blends in very gently into whatever you add it to, bringing out the flavors of your meal without overpowering it. What’s even better than that? Read all about what it does in your body! Each ingredient serves a purpose and was added to work harmoniously with all the others. So you support your metabolism, re-ignite your digestive fire, pacify all 3 doshas, and have a happy lovely day – because our digestion is at the root of our health and happiness as we all know…
What’s in Moms’ Masala & Why?
21 Ingredients in Mom’s Super-Spice & Why They’re Good for You:
 
Coriander Seed: A pro-diuretic spice, calming, blood-cleansing, cools the mind, helps evacuate ama-visha from the body;
Cumin: digestive spice, burns ama, provides good environment for the friendly bacteria in the colon;
Turmeric: an anti- inflammatory, anti-oxidant, immuno-modulator supports liver detox (for more information see the book Turmeric Superspice);
Black Pepper: “channel-opener,” supports the digestive system, improves cellular oxygenation; Curry Leaf: an aromatic leaf that supports liver detox;
Fenugreek seed: improves fat and sugar metabolism;.
Fennel Seed: harmonizing, carminative, cooling for the digestive system;
Tejpatta (Indian Cinnamon Leaf): improves sugar metabolism;
Mace: Calming, satisfying, fragrant;
Green Cardamom: tridosha pacifying, aromatic, cooling, supports and balances the digestive system; supports the flow of “prana” to heart;
Large Cardamom: supports the taste buds, the digestive system;
Cinnamon Tamala: enhances flame (agni) supports downward (normal) flow of apana;
Clove: appetizer, taste bud enhancer, digestive, enhances the secretion of salivary glands – a special spice for pacifying pitta and enhancing agni;
Cobra Safran: appetizing, digestive, enhances hydration and Molecular absorption, supports the probiotic environment of the colon;
Pink Pepper: mild aromatic anti-oxidant;
White Pepper: mildly pungent aromatic anti-oxidant;
Cinnamon- China: digestive, appetizing, supports the liver;
Cinnamon- India: enhances sugar metabolism, enhances absorption of nutrients; purifies the blood and increases ojas production;
Ajwain: enhances the taste buds, appetizer, supports the digestive system;, supports the downward flow of apana vata, pacifies stomach colic, builds the intestine a good environment to grow good bacteria for pro-biotic support;
Kalonji: supports the flow of digestive enzymes;
Ayurvedically dried ginger: appetizing, taste enhancing, pacifies samana vata, supports the digestive system to fight colic, enhances protein synthesis;
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST:
Soma Salt: tridoshic cooling salt.
(Serving size ½ to 1 tsp twice a day)
Our Marma course will be resuming in a couple of weeks for final sessions. All students have been anticipating this portion of our classes. We look forward to continuing this powerful class and concluding it with graduation for new SVA Marma experts!
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
Calendar of Upcoming Events
looking for a live SVA event in your area or online?

Check out our Calendar page for upcoming courses and community events & for full contact and registration details:
Upcoming new SVA events across the US & Canada coming soooooon
stay connected….
a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips – thousands of articles and questions answered by Vaidya Mishra and his team of experts; and so much more…
home to Vaidya Mishra’s unique pranic exquisite formulations – with weekly specials and give-aways. Learn Ayurveda as you shop!

Filed Under: Newsletters
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