Myra Lewin, AP
Author, Yoga Therapist, and Ayurvedic Practitioner
Originally from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Myra Lewin has been studying, practicing, and teaching Ayurveda and Yoga since the late 1980s. She is the author of two easily understood books on Ayurveda and is the CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) of Hale Pule Ayurveda and Yoga. Myra’s teaching provides simple, practical means to bring Ayurveda to life in impactful ways.
Follow Myra Lewin, AP
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- Health and Wellness
- May 27, 2019
Diet, lifestyle, sleep, and energy. These are the four pillars of Ayurveda. When we neglect them, we inhibit the proper flow of prana, which gives rise to the possibility of dis-ease. For women, this can be reflected in the menstrual cycle, and later, in the transition through menopause.
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- Health and Wellness
- November 01, 2018
Shirodhara as a treatment consists of a stream of warm oil run continuously on the forehead. The purpose of shirodhara is to calm the nervous system. Inherent in this process is choosing an oil that has qualities which support the mind and body to come back to balance.
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- All Recipes
- September 24, 2018
If you are looking for a new way to experience the beauty of autumn in your kitchen, reach for one of Ayurveda’s most revered spices: saffron. People are often intimidated by saffron because of its price. Yes, it is expensive, but like many things that have been held in high regard for centuries, good saffron is worth every penny.
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- August 07, 2018
This March at Hale Pule Ayurveda & Yoga was marked by a blessing: Our team members Robin and Sonja welcomed their baby girl, Leonie, into the world and embarked on a new path as parents.
This event offered us a good reminder that childbirth (and the pregnancy) is a significant event for the body and mind. How a new mother spends the weeks directly after the child arrives lays the foundation for how the family functions for many years to come.
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- All Recipes
- June 01, 2018
Served on their own, greens can be quite vata-provoking. This recipe for blended greens is meant to be served with a slightly greater portion of a sweet, augmenting vegetable—like sweet potatoes, zucchini, squash, beets, or carrots. The combination of these vegetables balances the doshas, brings in all rasa, and it tastes delicious!
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- All Recipes
- May 23, 2018
Melt ghee in a saucepan and add the spices, cooking for 1 to 2 minutes until the aroma is released. Add salt and red lentils and stir until well coated. Add water and basil. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cover. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the lentils are very soft.
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- All Recipes
- March 02, 2018
Sesame seeds are a commonly used Ayurvedic ingredient. The whole seeds are often added to food and the oil is prized for abhyanga and other treatments. But there’s one more way that you can enjoy this versatile food as medicine: in a soothing and delicious Sesame Vitality Shake.
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- Ayurvedic Herbalism
- January 10, 2018
I have a cabinet full of Ayurvedic spices. Each time I get ready to cook a meal, I get so much joy from seeing all the opportunities inside these little jars. The golden color of turmeric powder, the sweetness of fennel seed—everything is just waiting to come alive and nurture my health from the inside out.
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- All Recipes
- May 01, 2017
Melt the ghee in a pressure cooker and add the spices, cooking until the aroma is released. Add the salt, toor dal, and split mung dal and sauté until well coated. Add water, cover, and bring to pressure. Turn the heat down and cook for 10–12 minutes until legumes are quite soft.
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- August 16, 2016
A woman who recently attended my Ayurvedic chef training on Kaua’i reminded me once again of the power of yoga and Ayurveda as combined treatment techniques. Over the past three years, this woman had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, which set in after the birth of her second child. She had typical symptoms of joint pain, extreme morning stiffness, fatigue, a foggy mind and a feeling of overwhelm. She had removed most of the junk food from her diet and saw some improvement, but sought out an Ayurvedic consultation during her time at the training to find her next steps toward healing.
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- Health and Wellness
- August 19, 2015
Far too often, I see clients who come to me to address chronic health concerns that are the result of many years of asking their bodies to do more with less. I hear stories of people who are sick with the flu but continue to go to work every day, or people who are recovering from surgery trying to go right back to their old jogging regime.
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- Ayurveda Basics
- August 03, 2015
Ayurveda and Yoga, given as sister sciences thousands of years ago, help us find balance in our lives, bodies and minds. In modern times, when we are pulled from one urgent task to the next, find relief in “vegging out” and eat for convenience, these ancient teachings of balance have never been more relevant.
Education and Experience
Myra holds a Certificate of Advanced Clinical Study in Ayurveda from Vinayak Ayurveda Chikitsalaya, Nagpur, India. She was grandfathered with Yoga Alliance as one of the first ERYT500s in the US, and is a professional member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). Her harmonized and holistic approach to wellness has been refined by decades of personal application and rewarding work with her clients and students.
Events and Classes
With seasoned wisdom, Myra Lewin provides individual mentoring, panchakarma, a range of in-person and online Ayurveda and Yoga programs, immersions, and trainings, including a Yoga Alliance 200-hour hour teacher training. Myra is also the host of a holistically-focused Ayurveda and Yoga podcast. Myra supports people in all phases of life and health, including teachers, health practitioners, and those recovering from addiction.
Myra's Point of View
How were you introduced to Ayurveda?
My first Yoga teacher attempted to educate me about Ayurveda but it seemed too complicated to apply to my life.
Six years later, I was in India, telling some friends about my poor digestion and physical stiffness. They encouraged me to try ghee, saying it would help me feel better. I had rejected dairy all my life, and was not attracted to the idea of ghee at all. I was finally persuaded to give it an honest try, and my joints felt more flexible and comfortable in only one week!
Then and there I set out on a holistic path of learning and lifestyle changes.
When are you most likely to go out of balance and how do you bring yourself back in balance using Ayurveda?
Traveling. Airplanes or trains can imbalance my vata with the fast movement and dryness. When taking long trips, I bolster myself by oiling my body (abhyangha) before travel and after arrival at my destination. I make sure to bring my herbs with me and take them during the entire trip. Using Neti and Nasya on a daily basis is critical for maintaining my health while traveling.
A homemade rehydration drink also is a savior for me. I carry a 3oz bottle of honey, mineral salt, and lime mixed in the proper proportions to which I add hot water and drink on the trip. I also use an aromatherapy spray that I make for refreshing my eyes and skin. I shift my eating schedule the day I leave to come into sync with the destination. I use Vedic mantras to soothe my mind when things don’t go as planned.
How has Ayurveda changed your life?
My life totally transformed from one of constant discomfort, illness, and pain to boundless energy. As a child I had constant pain in my body. Through Ayurveda I learned how to:
- Eat foods that balance my doshas.
- Strengthen and maintain my digestive fire.
- Express an attitude of appreciation for food and all of the hands and nature that brings it to me.
- Truly nourish and nurture myself.
- Be in my life rather than standing on the sidelines waiting to get started.
As a result I have obtained complete healing from rheumatoid arthritis, severe allergies, and leukemia. Most importantly, I have no more pain in my body! I feel better now at 64 years than I did at 30 years.
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