Master Ayurvedic digestion and nutrition. Become a leader in integrative health care through this specialized 1 year integrative course. Class starts October 8th!
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Get the 45 minute presentation 'Balance My Coldness (Cold Guna)' given by Joyful Belly founder and director John Immel.
This presentation will show you Ayurvedic essentials on fixing this imbalance, including diet, lifestyle, and herbal tips from Ayurveda.
Price: $15.95
Elements: Air, Water
Balanced by 'Hot', 'Pungent'.
Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.
Is every part of your body warm and cozy? Imagine you are lying on a couch in front of a fire under your fluffiest down comforter while watching your favorite movie and sipping hot cocoa. If you're any colder than that, chances are a body part or two could use some nurturing. Don't wait until you are shivering and purple lipped; get warm and cozy right now. Make your winters like the dog days of summer!
Winter, High Heeled Shoes, & Aging
It takes work to keep your body warm. We all work hard to reduce drafts in our homes during the winter. Under-dressing for winter leaks your vital energy. Something as simple as toeless high heels could create a big 'draft' in the body, sapping your strength. A cold body temperature stresses your organs and leads to early aging. The best way to stay young is to keep your vitality intact.
Blood in Hibernation
Some people get cold feet even with two pairs of socks. When your body is cold, it constricts blood vessels and pulls blood into core. Even socks can't coax the blood out of hibernation. The solution to cold feet is warming your core and oiling your skin. Oiling your skin helps hold the heat in, as long as you wipe off all the excess before going outside. A pinch of turmeric keeps circulation strong.
Cold restricts all fluid motion, slowing the body's digestive juices and drying up sweat glands. Contact with a very cold temperature, such as ice cubes, constricts blood flow even to the point of numbness. Cold stiffens muscles, condenses, and compacts. Cold stimulates the nervous system. The cold weather in autumn stimulates fat storage and creates a protective layer of fat in the skin. Animals like polar bears are large to help them retain heat.
Effects of Cold Food & Drinks on Digestion
Since cold restricts circulation, drinking or eating cold foods such as ice cream or ice water effectively shuts down digestive function the moment we need it most. If your stomach is cold it will feel heavy. For this reason, cold foods are contraindicated for all three doshas.
When you eat cooling foods your eyes will feel refreshed, your forehead will feel cool, and your emotions will feel calm.
Kapha & Vata Cold
Kapha gets cold from slow metabolism. Vata cold comes from the core, deficiency, and exhaustion. When the core is deficient, even digestion gets cold. Vata people with cold digestion may forget to eat meals. Pitta is usually warm all year round!
Cold Blood Pressure
Cold causes a slow heartbeat and pale skin. Cold causes constriction of blood vessels, hampering circulation and causing obstruction and toxic buildup. Constricted vessels then lead to a rise in blood pressure. The kidneys compensate by filtering water from the blood which causes dryness, a process called cold diuresis in Western medicine. Cold also causes weakness and loss of coordination, shivering, goosebumps, and slurred speech.
Stuffy Noses & Common Colds
Viruses thrive in colder temperatures. Since breathing through the nose makes the sinuses cool, the body stuffs up the sinuses to keep them warm whenever it is threatened by infection or cold temperatures. Many diseases in Ayurveda are named after patterns, like the aforementioned example of the common cold.
Causes of Cold
Cold can be caused by improper clothing, insufficient food, climate, dryness, lack of fat tissue, lack of exercise, anemia, slow metabolism, blood stagnation, and drinking cold water.
Treatment of Cold
Nourishment, warm spices (like cloves and turmeric), ghee, extra layers of clothing, and exercise all help warm the body. Hot showers heat the skin but are insufficient to heat the core of the body. One of the best home remedies for cold is giving yourself a warm oil massage followed by a hot bath.
Ojas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after long-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness.
Sattvic foods promote awareness and a refreshed mind by nourishing the body without taxing digestion. Sattvic foods do not stimulate desire or nervous energy. They create clarity instead of drowsiness or heaviness.
A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The large size of the stool stimulates peristalsis so the stool can pass more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydr
Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.
Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.
Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.
An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.
In Ayurveda, oily refers to anything moistening. More specifically, oily refers to building substances that increases fat, or are themselves fatty. For example, sugar is Oily.
Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy.
Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.
Geriatric conditions typically involve low agni / metabolism, poor circulation, weakness & debility, muscle weakening, poor digestion, a drop in sex hormones, and connective tissue degradation in bones & skin.
Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.
An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.
Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.
Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.
Ojas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after long-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness.
Sattvic foods promote awareness and a refreshed mind by nourishing the body without taxing digestion. Sattvic foods do not stimulate desire or nervous energy. They create clarity instead of drowsiness or heaviness.
In Ayurveda, oily refers to anything moistening. More specifically, oily refers to building substances that increases fat, or are themselves fatty. For example, sugar is Oily.
Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.
Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy.
Geriatric conditions typically involve low agni / metabolism, poor circulation, weakness & debility, muscle weakening, poor digestion, a drop in sex hormones, and connective tissue degradation in bones & skin.
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a
healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics.
His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful.
John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda,
offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.
John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel,
as well as public service work in South Asia.
John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem.
His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion.
John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing.
In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots,
and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church.
Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick.
That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.
Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 7 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.
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