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Did you know that Ayurveda tells us that Winter is indeed the time to each more heavy and full of soma (sweet) meals? Despite the holiday feasting, despite the extra pounds you may have added during the past few weeks, and despite what experts might be saying, NOW is the time to enjoy full rich meals, along with good soma/sweet dishes! Not convinced? Vaidya Mishra gave us the full in-depth time-tested knowledge. You probably already know that Winter is the worst time to diet or detox. You will not only not be able to shed extra pounds, but dieting in the winter time goes against the rhythms of Natures and our body’s needs for this season. You will throw off your doshas, and that, depending on your constitution, age, and propensities, can result in deeper imbalances. 

So the big question is: WHY is it ok to crave and eat sweet stuff and why should we not worry about weight gain during the winter time? 

America blames weight gain on “winter holiday” but let’s explore the SVA explanation. We tend to gain weight in the winter time because of excess soma in the environment. Excess soma in the form of rain, snow, cold/cooler temperatures results in excess soma in the channels. Because agni is localized in the stomach, when the channels slow down due to cold weather, agni gets trapped in the stomach and is unable to process the additional soma in the channels overall.As a result, not only does one tend to gain weight, but the body also tends to accumulate more toxins in the wintertime, and to store them.

The ayurvedic rishis reminded us to be mindful of the cycles of time and the change that each season brings. Over time, we have forgotten how time is truly of the essence! What time we eat during the day, what we eat during which season, how we consume our edibles, all these things have a great impact on our overall health and happiness. This is why it is so important to adjust our diets seasonally – to introduce recipes fit for the season and time of day in that season. Your winter diet should have this primary objective: Pacify your digestive fire without clogging your srotas, or physical channels. What does that mean? In the wintertime: you need to eat a heavier diet – foods that are more full of Soma. It is essential to eat a “heavier” more nourishing diet in order to supply fuel to your digestive fire – it is very high now and if you don’t feed it properly it will aggravate your doshas, you will experience cravings, and reach out for sweet things and sugar. A heavier nourishing balanced diet will pacify vata and pitta doshas that tend to go out of balance this time of year. 

But you need something more too. Winter is a hydrating, nurturing, Ojas building season, with A LOT of soma in nature. Therefore: more agni is also needed to convert soma into Ojas. So the most important question is: how do you add more agni to your meal and diet without throwing off your doshas? 

AGNI enhancing foods and tips:

1. The sour taste enhances agni. Use limes instead of lemons – lemons are acidic in their post-digestive impact, but limes are alkaline. Squeeze onto your meals, or drink lime juice mixed with some water and a couple fresh mint leaves. You may add 1 tsp honey if you like. 
2. Salt is agneya too. Salt has the properties of earth and fire. Vaidya Mishra’s Soma Salt is more fire-balancing because it has an ideal ration of earth to fire – other salts may have too high fire to earth ratio etc. 
3. Minimize bitter and astringent tasting foods – these tend to aggravate air and dryness. Winter time is already drying and aggravating to Vata. Minimizing bitter and astringent foods will help maintain agni in balance as well. 
4. Avoid left-overs even if you “crave” them. These will make your body acidic and get you into a cycle of craving more unhealthy things. Choose fresh light easy to digest meals and snacks. 

If you still feel like you need something more specific, to help support and enhance your agni over and digestive fire in particular, try Vaidya Mishra’s Gymnema Brew. 

Enhance Fat & Sugar Metabolism with Cup of Gymnema Brew!

You will find you are craving more fatty foods in the winter time, rich stews, thick creamy blends, and also sweet breads and confections. Do you feel heavy and clogged up after eating them? Do you feel sluggish after a rich meal and need a pick-me-up? Does eating sweet things makes you crave even more sweet things? Vaidya’s Gymnema Brew might just be what you need. A complex unique blend of Ayurvedic plants and ingredients, it will support your fat and sugar metabolism, improving your overall metabolism and thus energy levels. 

How does it work? Each ingredient serves its unique purpose and works in conjunction with the other ingredients of the herbal synergy.

Here’s how:

Gymnema sylvestre: called “gurmar” in Hindi, literally translates into “sugar-killer.” It has been scientifically researched and found to help enhance the body’s cellular energy by improving sugar metabolism. 

Indian kino: another ayurvedic favorite – the inner hard wood of the tree called vijaya sar supplies prana to the pancreas, making it more efficient and thus supporting sugar metabolism – modern science has also confirmed these ayurvedic statements. 

Jamun seed: this seed pacifies ranjak pitta, governing factor of the liver and pancreas, through its cooling and astringent post-digestive properties. The cooling effect reduces pitta, and the astringent taste makes the pancreas “intelligent” supporting the flow and distribution of insulin. 

Fenugreek: the bitter taste of fenugreek supports the liver and the pancreas, increasing their efficiency as well for sugar and fat metabolism, by facilitating the release of bile from the liver, which goes into the colon to digest mainly fat, but sugar molecules as well. 

Date Seed: nurtures the channels and pacifies ranjaka pitta, the governing factor of the liver and the pancreas.

Chicory: supports the physical channels and enhances overall physical and vibrational circulation, supporting detox and nurturing all organs and organ systems.

Sweet Cinnamon: increases raktagni – the metabolic factor of the blood. When raktagni is low, the glucose in the blood does not get converted into the energy need to fuel the muscles. Modern research shows that cinnamon increases the body’s ability to transform sugar into energy. 

When is the best time to enjoy a cup of Gymnema Brew? 

Have a cup of Gymnema Brew AFTER your meals, to help metabolize sugar molecules and transform them into energy. Do not consume before meals or on an empty stomach, unless advised by a SVA expert, as it may result in low blood sugar – hypoglycemia. You may find that after even a cup of Gymnema Brew or Tripti Tea, you still want to experience the sweet flavor? Vaidya gave us more option. You can try one of his sugar free sweeteners. For while eating soma-genic foods is recommended in the wintertime, processed white sugar is NEVER an option! Over time, you may even find that your tolerance for raw or other forms of sugars has also decreased. This is one of the primary reasons Vaidya made his healthy sugar substitutes, in 4 flavors: Original Flavor, with Cinnamon, Rose, or Cardamom.

Unhappy with the large variety of sweeteners on the current market, many SVA followers had been requesting and asking Vaidya to formulate SVA Sweeteners for several years. Vaidya Mishra wanted to formulate a sweetener that would be a health-promoting and safe-to-use sweetener for long, as well as, short term use. He wanted a sweetener that could be used to sweeten food and beverages without imbalancing, or confusing, your physiology, nor carrying any side-effects. After extensive research and development he finally put together a SVA Sweet Nectar – in 4 different flavors.

What can you expect from the SVA Sweet Nectars?

• a sweetener which is sweet or concentrated enough to sweeten all food/beverage/ baked items; 
• a sweetener which is “safe” for cold use, as well as for cooking/baking;
• a sweetener made without alcohol, with zero synthetic preservatives, without any crude licorice, without any food coloring, which can absorb and/or carry or blend in with other natural flavors.
• A sweetener whose flavor would retain after cooking and/or baking. 
• A sweetener which would satisfy your sweet tooth and not aggravate or imbalance your sugar metabolism.

All SVA Sweeteners are made in a 100% vegetable glycerin base, with DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice), and Stevia. The 4 flavors are: 

1. Original Sweet Nectar – original flavor;
2. Sweet Nectar with 100% organic Cinnamon;
3. Sweet Nectar with 100% organic Cardamom;
4. Sweet Nectar with 100% organic Rose.

You can use any one of these any way you want – to sweeten your glass of water; to sweeten your cup of tea; to bake in with your muffins or cakes; or in your salad dressing (you can make a delicious dressing with Sweet Nectar with Cinnamon, lime, Mom’s Masala, Olive oil, and Soma Salt). When cooking any sweet dish with protein – maybe a yogurt salad, or a paneer dish, a milk pudding, or rice pudding etc., any sweet dish that has a high content of carbs, it will be great for you to mix the Sweet Nectar with Cinnamon, or with Cardamom. As you know, Cinnamon helps metabolize starch/sugar, and Cardamom helps metabolize protein molecules. Tip: when baking or cooking with the Sweeteners, add the drops at the very end of mixing the ingredients, so you preserve the aroma.

Alternately, the sweeteners may also be used according to your dosha: Rose for pitta; cardamom for kapha; cinnamon for vata. Rose is the number one flower/plant for balancing pitta dosha. It is also ideal for balancing and cooling off the emotions, or sadhak pitta. 

Why did Vaidya Mishra add DGL? Deglycyrrhizinated licorice is also great for pitta individuals, as it supports the kledak kapha of the stomach, even as it pacifies the pachak pitta. It is an excellent ingredient for high pitta/low agni people – it cools off the pitta and sharpens the agni. Generally, our sugar craving is higher when our sadhak pitta is off, due to stress, or acidic food. Having a treat made with a SVA sweetener with DGL instead of reaching out for that sugary snack or ice cream, will prevent from further aggravating your sadhak pitta and clogging your channels. 

This sweetener will also be great for those who have issues with sugar metabolism – either congenital or stress related. Not only will it satisfy your sugar craving, but if you use the nectar with Cinnamon, it will further support your sugar metabolism. The Sweet Nectar with Cinnamon is ideal for those with sugar metabolism challenges. Please note: the Sweet Nectar with Cinnamon does not replace any/all medications you may be currently on for sugar metabolism health conditions. 

Try one, or all, and see which one you prefer! Experiment with them and come up with your own SVA recipes and email them to us at: svahealth@prana-center.com. Namaste!

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Why learn SVA Samadhi Marma? Here’s what others are saying about this Self-Care Course



“The Samadhi on-line course uses beautiful images, clear demonstrations videos and direct teaching from Vaidya himself. The content lay-out is perfectly paced in such a way that one can deeply immerse in the ancient knowledge without feeling overwhelmed. The information cycles gently, repeating in a way that invites retention and understanding.

I strongly encourage people wanting to learn more about SVAyurveda to start with this program as it clearly outlines what makes SVA so unique from other ayurvedic lineages.This clarity will provide a strong foundation for future SVA learning.”

Jackie R – British Columbia, Canada

“We all face so many emotional and mental challenges as we go through life, specially nowadays; and that is why we need a proven method for handling stressful situations. I found that this course gives us the best ayurvedic tool to surf the waves of life with greater skill, an image Vaidya Mishra himself liked to use. Vaidya Mishra’s teachings on the heart lotus in connection to the mind and the light of the soul (satya buddhi or spiritual intellect) are a tremendous teachings that have been misinterpreted and lost. In addition, it is so important to learn how to correctly work with marma points, as they are such powerful yet sensitive energy points. But perhaps my favorite aspect of this course is that it has a lot of knowledge that helps us understand who we are as individuals in relationship to the cosmos, and why it is important to strengthen and nurture that connection, through SVAyurveda. I highly recommend this course both to newcomers to SVA and old-timers alike – you will not regret it!”

James Pace, Iowa, USA.

“I found the “Samadhi Marma for Self-Care” course to be super-empowering, literally providing an authentic, ancient methodology which consistently produces physical and emotional balance at my fingertips — anytime. The instructional videos taught me the simple step-by-step transdermal application of powerful herbs — each one specially formulated by Vaidya Mishra himself — to specific marma points. I have found this practice to be wonderfully relaxing, and profoundly quieting to my mind — perfect for doing prior to my meditation practice, or for that matter, anytime I feel my mind or emotions out of balance. In fact, Vaidya Mishra explains that when these herbs are applied properly to the marma points, accompanied by special mantras (all taught as part of his therapeutic protocol in the course), this balances our body chemistry and mind, providing the potential for experiencing higher states of consciousness. That is my personal experience! How amazing to find a modern-day online course teaching ancient Ayurvedic healing secrets from the comfort of my own living room!

Although I am quite familiar with Ayurveda, I also very much enjoyed the beautiful intro to Ayurveda and its basic principles, as well as the history of Vaidya Mishra’s ancient Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda (SVA) lineage. The video footage of this great master teaching his students was truly a privilege to experience — how incredibly special to see and learn directly from this authentic Ayurvedic Master himself! Priceless! Thank you for such an amazing, practical, effective, and unique course!”

Daria Schneidman-Fernandez, Idaho, USA

Join us at the Conscious Life Expo in February 2023. Click here to view the programs and timings, and find our booth. Come experience a FREE SVA MARMA session. We look forward to seeing you there.

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12 & 9-Month Options

Reclaim Your Health & Transform Your Life While Launching Your Ayurveda Career!

Your Experience:

• Learn Ayurveda step-by-step in a supportive online global community
• Anchor into the daily healing rituals of SVA-ayurveda
• Incorporate healing foods, spices, herbs, essential oils, nourishing self-massage, self-marma, color therapy, meditation, pranayama, mantra, yoga and other ayurveda and yoga lifestyle protocols into your daily life
• Learn ayurvedic cooking of seasonal ayurveda and SVA-staple foods as we move thru each season in our monthly SVA-ayurveda cooking lessons
• Learn to read the body, face, tongue, nails, voice & pulse to assess common imbalances years and even decades before they appear
• Experience the power of healing your deepest emotional, psychological & relational imbalances and the effect they have on your nervous system, immune system and overall health through our ayurveda trauma-informed psychology & cutting edge relationship & communication skills to heal your heart, core relationships & regulate your nervous system at the deepest level, addressing issues like co-dependency, narcissism, high empathy, intuition, and highly sensitive people
• Learn cutting edge life-coaching skills such as habit evolution, time-management & purpose clarification to support you in actualizing your dreams
• Enjoy seasonal self-care retreats, rituals, celebrations & detoxes
• Learn to make your own herbal medicines in our seasonal medicine making immersions
• Learn to heal common imbalances in all bodily systems thru specific foods, recipes, herbs, traditional formulations (ghees, oils, wines, jams, etc), lifestyle medicine and massage therapies
• Learn to create customized ayurveda herbal formulations for yourself and others
• Includes:  Weekly live classes, weekly video lessons, workbook/textbook, weekly peer support circles, monthly cooking lessons & seasonal retreats and group detoxes, PLUS monthly private Ayurveda Health Sessions with our certified graduate Ayurveda Coaches & Herbalists
• Optional: Ayurveda Internship

Details & Registration:

• 100% Online Training
• Where: Ayurvedic Living School Virtual Campus
• Details & Registration Click Link Below:
• Ayurveda Life Mastery (Health & Life Coach Training), Starts Jan 18 / Doors Close Jan 31st:  https://www.ayurvedicliving.com/a/34864/Kk3wJz9n
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• Taught by: Traci Webb who respectfully and joyfully shares her teacher Vaidya Mishra’s SVA lineage knowledge, along with a special monthly guest guide
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