Author: Anna Godfrey

Ayurveda Recipes: Red Lentil Dal

‘Red Lentil Dal’ is one of those meals – no matter how many times you cook it, it always tastes a little different. But that is the beauty of this recipe. It is a wonderful base for each individual to make their own mark on it. The use of simple ingredients and carefully selected spices in this meal encapsulates the wisdom of Ayurvedic cooking, while making it accessible to even the most novice chef. No matter how bad your day or long the week, a steaming bowl of warm, comforting dal will keep you grounded and content.
When all the ingredients are cooked together, they become well combined and easy to digest. This type of ‘one pot wonder’ meal is exactly what the digestive system loves to receive. Over time, eating these light, soft and easy to digest meals will increase energy and improve digestive strength. ‘Red Lentil Dal’ can be enjoyed at any occasion, but is particularly useful when when you are feeling under the weather or recovering from an illness.
Ingredients
2 pinch BLACK PEPPER
1/4 tsp CARDAMOM
2 pinch CAYENNE PEPPER
8 g CILANTRO
1/2 tsp CINNAMON
1/2 tsp CLOVES
1 tsp CUMIN
2 clove GARLIC
1/2 inch GINGER (FRESH)
2 pinch GREEN CHILIS
1 whole LIME
1/2 c RED LENTILS (MASOOR DAL)
1/2 tsp SALT (MINERAL SALT)
3 tbsp OLIVE OIL
2 whole TOMATO
1/2 tsp TURMERIC
3 c WATER
1 tbsp YELLOW ONION
Instructions
No Indian meal is complete without dal or rice. Bengali’s use a variety of different lentils cooked with many different spices. Feel free to experiment.
1. Soak the lentils in water for 2-12 hours. Then drain and rinse well.
2. Fill water to twice the height of the lentil. Add salt & pepper. Bring to a boil and then simmer over low heat for 60 minutes.
3. Cut tomatoes into wedges and add.
4. Fry onions in 2 tbsp sunflower oil. Add garlic at the end because it burns quickly.
5. Mix into daal.
6. In a separate frying pan, make a paste with the spices and fry in the remaining oil. Add to lentils.
7. Cook, keeping at a simmer adding some water every now and then. The lentils are done when they have completely melted and the soup is smooth, blended and watery. This typically takes 60 minutes of simmering. Garnish with lime and fresh cilantro.

Emotional Wellbeing: 6 Steps to Reconnect with Yourself and Others

“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.”
Life can throw us a curveball occasionally, leaving us emotionally disoriented and alone. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to support your emotional wellbeing and help you reconnect with your authentic self and the world around you.
1. Reach out
Never undervalue the importance of human connection. Speak with loved ones, friends, or licensed counselors to express your feelings. Just putting your feelings into words can occasionally feel wonderfully freeing.
2. Put away electronics
Overusing technology can also work against us by isolating us more often than connecting us. Consider your usage of your laptop, tablet, and phone, and set aside some time every day to disconnect and interact with the outside world. Or, to help you reset, think about going on a social media detox.
3. Practice mindfulness
We can feel disengaged at times because we’re rushing through our days without much thought. Including some mindfulness in your daily routine can truly help you to re-center yourself if you find that you are becoming too disconnected from your environment. This does not imply that you must meditate for an hour every day. To establish a connection with oneself, you could even attempt simply eating your meals attentively. Take note of the flavors, textures, and scents of your meal as well as how it feels and tastes when you bite into it. By taking time with your meals and tapping into that mindfulness you can turn one of your daily necessities into a way to connect better with your own body and mind.
4. Journal
Putting your thoughts on paper can offer valuable insights into your feelings. Maintaining a journal can be an introspective exercise that facilitates emotional organization and awareness.
Taking steps to alleviate your disconnection doesn’t mean you must overhaul your entire life. Gradually, little adjustments made consistently can have a big effect. So choose a few items from this list and begin implementing them into your daily life to see how they can contribute to a sense of community.
5. Schedule time with yourself
Resetting your emotional compass can be achieved through self-care. Self-care can be practiced in a variety of ways, and no method is superior to another. To unwind, you don’t need to spend the entire day in a spa. Some people enjoy spending time by themselves with a nice book and a cup of tea. For some, it could be taking a warm bath with aromatherapy and soothing music, or going for a stroll with their pet. Find a way that works best for you, but it’s important that whatever activity you choose is focused on giving to yourself.
6. Spend time in nature
Spending time in nature can sometimes be the best way to find yourself again. Anybody who lives in a city may find this challenging because they may not have access to long walking pathways through forests or mountain climbing trails.
Even a little time spent in a park can improve your connection to nature if you live in a busy city. If it’s warm enough to remove your shoes, pay attention to the colors and movement of the trees as well as the sensation of the grass beneath your feet. You could even just take a moment to relax and enjoy the sensation of the breeze on your face, the sound of birds chirping, or the company of small children.

Downward-Facing Pigeon Pose (Adho mukha kapotasana)

What is Downward-Facing Pigeon Pose?
Downward-facing pigeon pose, or adho mukha kapotasana in Sanskrit, is a restful version of the upright pigeon pose. The torso folds over the front leg with the arms stretched forward in this deep hip opener.
Instructions
Begin in pigeon pose with the right leg extended back.Exhale and lower the torso down, walking the hands forward.Rest the forehead on the floor and press the palms together in prayer.Breathe while holding the pose.Inhale and release. Change sides.

Five Powerful Steps to Claim Your Ultimate Power: A Guide to Personal Transformation

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.”
Here are five powerful steps to consider that will allow you to create the space to understand who you truly are and what you want from life to claim your ultimate power.
If you’re feeling stuck, create a positive mantra to counter the painful thoughts. The more you rinse and repeat the power of where you want to go, your energy will shift away from your negative situation.

Invest in doing your “own work.” This means understanding what patterns you need to break to get to the next level in life. You will find when you invest in working on you and understand your trigger points you will feel a sense of freedom to walk away from what no longer serves you by creating space for new and exciting opportunities to find you.

Be gentle with yourself. Don’t expect an overnight miracle to happen because it won’t find you until you’re ready.

If you’re in a situation that is causing you pain, accept that the other person may not apologize. That’s OK. Remember that’s their story, not yours. You cannot “fix” someone, but you can fix yourself. Forgive the experience and walk away to embrace other opportunities. You don’t need to sizzle in a shit pit for one more moment of life.

Engage in self-care. A happy heart is a magnet for miracles. If you want to attract miracles make the time to receive them. Take time out in nature, go for a run, book a massage, and switch your phone off. The secret whispers of life will find you and you will be grateful you took the time to stop and listen to thrive.
To claim your power means creating the time to understand who you are and what you want to do in this lifetime. From there all it takes is a series of powerful steps and you will never look back, only forward as you live life on your own terms attracting the right people and opportunities into your life and career.

Energizing Yoga: Lion’s Breath Technique for Jaw Tension Relief

Lion’s Breath is an energizing yoga breathing practice that may help relieve tension in your jaw and facial muscles.
It’s also known in yoga as Lion’s Pose or Simhasana in Sanskrit.
To do this:
Come into a comfortable seated position. You can sit back on your heels or cross your legs.Press your palms against your knees with your fingers spread wide.Inhale deeply through your nose and open your eyes wide.At the same time, open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue, bringing the tip down toward your chin.Contract the muscles at the front of your throat as you exhale out through your mouth by making a long “haaa” sound.You can turn your gaze to look at the space between your eyebrows or the tip of your nose.Do this breath 2 to 3 times.