Most people think that Ayurveda is all about the Doshas, and while the Doshas are important, until we cleanse Ama - toxins - and strengthen agni - digestion - it was almost impossible to achieve health ad healing. With less toxic buildup and stronger digestive system, we are able to better tap into our intuition and more clearly hear our body’s innate wisdom. This enables us to go deeper into our practice. During this week we will dive deep into these foundational concepts of Ama and Agni to understand their role in body, mind and spirit health. You will learn how to effectively cleanse ama from your system and strengthen your digestive health using a combination of diet, lifestyle and herbs. You will also learn the specific asanas and pranayama practices that can clear toxins and tone agni so that you can incorporate these into your own routines and also your classes if you teach.

Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Three of the key players in Ayurveda. But they are much more than they are commonly understood to be. These Doshas are in everything - our food, our cycles, the weather, the seasons. During this week, we will explore and discover the nature of each Dosha and how it impacts our health, both positively and negatively. You will also learn the importance of the 20 Gunas which, when properly understood and applied, can be used to heal and nurture our internal balance and therefore health. At the end of this week, you will understand your own Dosha as well as how to identify doshic imbalances in your friends, family and students. You will know how to adapt your food and lifestyle practices to balance your Dosha as well as how to incorporate Dosha-balancing techniques into your practice and classes.

Now that you understand the Doshas and the Gunas, you will learn how these also relate to the cycles and the seasons. With this knowledge, you can seasonally adapt your yoga and pranayama practices and classes to build strength and immunity, particularly during seasonal transitions. You will also learn how to adjust your own daily routines to balance your health according to the Doshas and the Seasons as well as, if you are a woman, how to adjust your food and lifestyle practices depending upon where you are in your own monthly cycle.

There’s a traditional Ayurvedic proverb that says “When food is wrong, medicine is of no use. When food is right, medicine is of no need.” What we put in our bodies is so crucial to our health, healing and vitality. Most of us know this, but sometimes it is hard to know which food is “right” or “wrong” with so many mixed messages and diet fads out there. Ayurveda’s philosophy around food and tradition has been tried and tested and remained largely unchanged over thousands of years. It is simple, consistent and reliable. It not only keeps your body in a state of strength, it also helps rebalance your cells and tissues so that you can reclaim your bodies innate natural intelligence to thrive and self-heal. During this week, you will learn the Ayurvedic principles of food and nutrition including when to eat, what to eat, how to prepare your food and how to ensure optimal digestion. You will also learn some simple yoga and pranayama practices for supporting digestion issues that may arise such as bloating, indigestion, reflux and nausea. We will finish with a delicious Ayurvedic meal which we will cook and enjoy together.