intro to ayurveda

spiritual healthcare and cashew-date caramels

Hello hello! I am just finishing the first half of my schooling before I move into an externship in the fall and so I am switching gears here to focus on opening up the world of Ayurveda to you, my people! (and yes, there will still be recipes.) It will be a good way for me to stay fresh over the summer and solidify what I’ve learned so that I’m ready when I start taking clients :) I can’t wait to see you!

So. What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a spiritually-based system of healthcare that recognizes our connectedness to that which is greater than our own self and our own self-interests. ‘Ayurveda’ is a combination of two Sanskrit words: āyus, meaning "life" and veda, meaning "knowledge" or "science.” Therefore, Ayurveda translates to "knowledge of life" or "science of life."

We focus on the five sense therapies to heal:

Taste : diet and herbs
Touch : massage
Sight : color
Sound : mantra
Smell : aromatherapy

Ayurvedic wisdom operates from the five elements — the mahabhutas — ether, air, fire, water, and earth. We are all made up of these elements and each of us has a unique blend within us. This, your constitution, is the balance of the three doshas.

Vata - air and ether
Pitta - fire (and a little bit of water)
Kapha - water and earth

Your dominant dosha gears you towards behaviors and habits which end up causing disharmony — like increases like. Dosha literally means fault or disease. You may have a tendency to over-exercise, or over-eat. Maybe you naturally sleep late, or skip meals with ease. It’s all part of the human experience. There is no judgement; good or bad, but rather cause and effect. Ayurveda is about bringing yourself back into balance. One of the coolest things to me about Ayurveda, is that it is a science of personal responsibility. Responsibility means that we have the ability to respond. We have agency over our lives. The more responsibility we take for our lives, the greater our ability to create the life we want.

It is not about perfection, it's about presence.

The goal is not to never stray from the path, but to recognize that there is a path, and return to it when we wander.

We are living in a fast-paced world. We are living in crazy times. Ok. Let’s just be honest. We are living through some very fucked up shit. There are so many forces pulling us away from ourselves and each other. There are so many forces draining our hope and energy. We cannot resist if we are exhausted and disconnected and burnt out. Ayurveda is about slowing down. Listening. Connecting.

I like to say that Ayurveda is the “sister science” to Yoga. Where Yoga focuses on breath and asana, Ayurveda focuses on diet and lifestyle, but it is all part of the same world. We are all one. When we heal ourselves, we heal each other. This is what it’s all about.

Only love.

// Z

cashew-date caramels

Dates are so good for you, you guys! They are naturally high in fructose, glucose and full of fiber. The way our bodies break them down doesn't cause a spike to our blood sugar levels and 100 g of Medjool dates contains 696 mg of potassium — which is great for muscle recovery post-workout. They contain vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, A1, and C. Pairing them with activated cashews here just adds to their nutritional benefit with protein and healthy fats. Why eat a regular caramel, when you could have one that supports your body like these?!

caramels

1 c activated cashews

1 c medjool dates, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes

1 T vanilla x

1 t himalayan salt

chocolate coating

1 C dark chocolate (70% or higher) chopped

1 T coconut oil

1 t honey

Blend cashews and salt in a small food processor or nutribullet until finely blended. Drain dates, making sure to press out any excess water. Add dates and vanilla and blend together until a smooth “dough” forms. Scoop caramels with a small cookie scoop and place on a small sheet tray in the freezer while you melt your chocolate.

For the coating - I am often lazy and don’t feel like properly tempering chocolate – this is a quick and easy cheat method. Over a double boiler, melt chocolate with coconut oil and honey. Stir to prevent scalding on the sides. Remove bowl from heat.

First, shape the caramels however you want – you can roll them into round balls or press them into rectangles like I did. Then, drop a caramel into the bowl of chocolate and scoop it up with a fork. Tapping the fork on the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate, slide the caramel off your fork onto a parchment lined sheet tray and repeat until you're done

!