Lisa McKnight | Blog | Lisa McKnight

The Science of Happiness

The goal of the Vedic sciences is to lead us to our intuition where we begin to trust our inner knowing. This gives us a platform to start from. When I began to study the Vedic sciences, I started with Ayurveda which means “science of life” One of my first lessons was that there are 4 goals all humans share. One of the four is happiness. Yes, there is a scientific formula for happiness! Once I connected to this there was no going back!

Dharma means soul purpose. This is a big one, we hear so much about finding our soul purpose, it has become a trend, but what I don’t hear too many people saying is that dharma also means duty. It’s true, soul purpose and dharma and duty all mean the same thing. And I know, it doesn’t sound so beautiful when it’s put like that, but I feel the need to shed light on all this talk of soul purpose, because it’s not a fluffy thing, it’s a commitment. And this was, for me, the missing piece of why I couldn’t connect with my dharma. I thought it was this magic button and when you find it and push it your life becomes easier, makes sense and everything just falls into place. Well, there is no magic button in that sense.

When you are to the point of seeking out your dharma, you will find that there is a gap between finding it and embracing it. In this gap, you have to decide to accept the duty you signed up for, or not. This is an agreement you made with your higher self, or God, or whatever name you choose to call your divine, about what you are going to do in this life. In this sense, dharma is a soul contract.

Once you become aware of your dharma, the magic begins to appear, you will experience synchronicities and new opportunities. While it does start to feel magical at this point, it can also feel confusing and disorganized. It can feel like it’s taking you off your current path, and it is. That can be scary, however, it is also a sign you’re on the right track and you may find yourself going in a very different direction.

Without accepting our dharma we cannot fully move into the next goal which is artha meaning prosperity and the one after that which is kama meaning, you guessed it, HAPPINESS! This is where true happiness lives and if you have gotten here through following these goals you will experience the magic of it! Happiness will permeate all aspects of your life and you will gain access to your innate power to design your best life. This all leads us to the final and ultimate goal moksha meaning liberation of the soul which is attained by fully living into each of the 4 goals.

5000 Stars

Lately, I have been excavating parts of myself I had forgotten about. I’ve been trying to understand my past, make sense of it and, figure out how it fits into my now. Following the trail of breadcrumbs, I left that tells the story of my life and all I have created. While I was decorating for this past Christmas I found my Wool Felt Star Garlands. The child-friendly decorations I made for our Christmas trees because I only had glass ornaments and I wanted my children to see and touch beautiful objects of art as they explored the tree, and eliminate the risk of breaking glass.

There are so many stars! I did not count them so maybe not 5000, but a lot! I traced each one onto the fabric and cut it out. This took a tremendous amount of time and patience! It is tedious work. Very simple but tedious. It is not work done with tiny children, so I would wait until they went to bed for the night and use those precious hours! Of course, I was sleep-deprived and still breastfeeding!

What compelled me to do this instead of just going to bed? Why was I working so hard, not caring for myself properly, not understanding what I really needed? As I was staring in disbelief at these garlands and realizing how easy it seemed at the time to whip these out so quickly in contrast to how I feel now, I became curious about what my astrology chart looked like then. What parts of me were activated at that time that caused me to be able to take on such a task whilst caring for two very young very active boys?

This is one of the things I love so much about Vedic Astrology, it allows me to time travel in a sense, going back to parts of myself long forgotten as well as times I found myself confused. I can look at planetary influences and it really helps me understand what I was going through. When I put the pieces of my past together I can better understand my path and how I came to be where I am now. Then I can see the bigger picture and plan my next steps with more clarity.

So I have these parts of me that work so hard and push myself beyond reason. I know lots of you can relate to this! Where does this come from? This is the way Saturn is placed in my chart. If placed well Saturn gives perseverance, hard work ethics, patience. This gives me the ability to apply a lot of effort to long and short projects. I was also in Saturn Dasa ( a 19 year period of time when Saturn is the most influential planet in your life). and my second Sade Sati, a 7.5 year period (approximately) when Saturn moves through the houses before your natal Moon, moves into the house with your natal Moon and then moves on to occupy the house after. Since Saturn sits in each house for 2.5 years this is known as the 7.5 years of Saturn or Sade Sati.

Suffice to say Saturn was delivering all this pressure and I felt so compelled to over-deliver. There will never be a more intense Saturn time in my life than this was. A lot had already happened and this was the tail end of Sati Sat. My life had been completely turned upside down, all the parts scattered in the wind, then put back together beautifully. Believe me, it did not feel so beautiful in the worst of it! I was grateful for the 2^nd chance and I was working really hard to feel worthy of it. However, I was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle, maybe the most crucial. Saturn is the utmost important planet to consider for self-care. At this time in my life, I thought the more I worked at my homemaking job, the better my life and my children’s lives would be.

Self-care was unheard of, beyond stealing a 5-minute shower every few days and brushing my teeth daily (which is not self-care) my needs were on the back burner. Nobody was telling me to take care of myself, in fact, there seemed this subliminal message that I was never doing enough. So, I used this Saturn time to work myself half to death. Eventually, I got another wake-up call. Thankfully this one wasn’t the punch in the back I didn’t see coming the first time! There was a part of me that knew something needed to change, but I wasn’t quite sure what. I asked for support from a professional and guess what? The hard work I was supposed to be doing was self-care! I say hard work because it was the hardest work I ever did, putting my own needs on my list as a mother. I actually had to hire a professional to give me permission!

Saturn wants us to simplify and practice self-care. To do the hard work it takes to become the best version of ourselves!!! I was totally missing the point!!! This is when my Self-care journey began. For the past 15 years now all of this beautiful effort has gone into studying food and lifestyle to support my self and my family. I have realized that the greatest gift I can give to my family and all whom I encounter, is to be the best version of myself. The past 7 years have found me enrolled in school studying the art and science of self-care. Ayurveda, Jyotish and Kundalini yoga. My mission is to help others tap into their innate wisdom and become the best version of themselves.

It has always been important to me to create beautiful things with my hands and with my mind. I use the finest materials I can find and make my things to last (unless it’s food, then I make it fresh and delicious)!!! I feel that if I am going to spend my time on something it needs to be the very best I can do. I have taken this approach in all the things including my education. Creating the beautiful stars was definitely part of my “overworking to be worthy” phase. On reflection, I would make them again! Only now I would pace myself.

One of the many gifts I took away from my Saturn Dasa and 2 Sade Satis is how to get things done slowly and methodically, while still doing all the things that need to be done. That’s how I put myself through school while homeschooling two children. If you have read my eWorkbook “Daily Rituals” you are familiar with my processes of managing your time to include what is most important and clear away the junk mentally and physically. To get your copy of “Daily Rituals eWorkbook” provide your name and email using the form at the bottom of this page.

The Three Bodies

Recently during a brainstorming session, one of my mentors asked me “what do you do”? I know that I am supposed to be able to describe this in a sentence or two, so here goes:

I am here to help people connect their Physical, Astral and Causal bodies because this will raise consciousness on our planet.

What I do is a living thing, it grows and changes as I deepen my knowledge through education and working with mentors. So I’m unpacking it here knowing it will still be growing and evolving as I do.

In Ayurveda school, I learned about our three bodies. I had heard something like this in the faith I was raised in so there was some resonance. There is definitely something to be said for hearing a thing in different ways! Eventually, something will resonate! This is what happened for me with Vedic Science. I went on to study Vedic Astrology and more pieces of the puzzle fell into place and now as I study Kundalini Yoga I find even more congruency, more weaving of the three together into a beautiful offering. I am deeply fulfilled by this study. It is my Dharma and pleasure to invite you into my world for a few moments to share the basis of my work and why I do what I do.

The three bodies: Physical, Astral and Causal.

The physical body is literally the 3D version of us, in the flesh. This body that we can see, feel, and touch. It is made up of the five elements and gives us a human experience through our five senses. We must use our sense organs to sustain life. This is why Ayurveda exists because it is directions on how to maintain our physical body without forgetting about our Astral and Causal bodies! Ayurveda is how to not get caught up in the illusion that only our physical body exists. To acknowledge that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. The teachings of Ayurveda keep this alive in us! In Ayurvedic Astrology the Physical body is associated with the Rising sign aka Ascendant and it’s ruler

The Astral body is a subtle form of the physical body, which actually breaks down into 10 bodies 3 of which are mental, 6 energetic and 1 physical, and is closely related to the nervous system. We usually experience it indirectly through thoughts and emotions. We can have more direct experience through dreams. The astral body vibrates at a higher frequency and is connected to intuition, Chakras, and Nadis. Nadis are energy channels through which our life force flows. We work with Chakras and Nadis through Ayurveda, Vedic Astrology and Kundalini yoga which balances and activates all 10 subtle bodies. The Astral body is connected to the 5D 4D and 3D because it is the bridge between the Physical and Causal bodies. . This is super important to understand because connecting the 3D, 4D and 5D is crucial for our journey. The birth chart represents the astral body and acts as a mediator for all three bodies, bringing the design of our existence to light. The planet we can look to for the Astral body is the Moon, we also look at the Moon Nakshatra, from here we can have more insight on the specifics of working with the Astral body. Working with the Astral body we can improve our physical life with methods that also fulfill our Soul Purpose.

The Causal body is our soul and what we carry from lifetime to lifetime. It stores our karmic records, and all the wisdom we have learned over lifetimes and most closely represents the 5D. I once had an Ayurveda teacher tell me that people who are compelled to study Ayurveda in this life, are continuing their studies from previous lives. This became clearer to me as my path led me through many of the Vedic sciences. I had a sense of all the information weaving together (a process known as Tantra) the knowledge felt congruent in ways that I had never experienced with other teachings. I will, I’m sure still be studying for many lifetimes as it only keeps getting more interesting to me! Sometimes we are not really in touch with what our soul wants to do. When we work with the Physical and Astral bodies this can be revealed to us. The planet we look to for the Soul is the Sun. We also look to the AK (Atma Karaka) Planet which is unique to each individual.

Looking at these three planets in the birth chart and how they are placed along with other factors affecting them, can reveal a formula for us to work with.

If you want to dive deeply into this work, gift yourself with a spot in my Shakti Coaching program.

To schedule, a FREE Self Mastery Session follow this link to my calendar.

The Sacred Ritual of Eating

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Eating food is a sacred act. When you eat you are connecting with the universe and with the earth. What if we stopped obsessing over what we are eating and started focusing on how we are eating? You have probably figured out by now that there is no one size fits all diet, and that, due to various factors, no diet continues to work forever. For generally healthy people with no food restrictions, eat whole, organic, and local as much as possible, avoid processed foods, excessive sugars, and fats. If you are on a particular eating plan that works for you, apply the same principles. Pay attention to how food feels in your body as you eat and observe how you feel after eating as your body goes through the digestion process…. and follow the 15 food guidelines!

These guidelines are adaptable for anyone to use.

1: It is important to eat in a relaxed environment

As I was preparing a meal today I began to reflect on how different this looks for me now. I used to be only concerned with what I was eating. Where I was eating was always wherever I could squeeze a meal into my busy schedule. Sometimes in the car, sometimes in a busy lunchroom at work, sometimes in front of my computer or TV. Sitting down for a nice relaxing meal seemed like a luxury I could only do on occasion. When I started to have many digestive issues this was the last thing I thought about, however, it is one of the most important things to consider when eating. If you know anything about the living wisdom of Ayurveda, you probably know food is a huge topic! The reason for that has everything to do with digestion. You can eat the most beautiful healthy meal, but if you can’t digest it, it turns to toxins in your body. Over and over again working with people I have heard them say that they have a great diet and can’t understand why they don’t digest their food properly, sometimes they never sit down to a meal, preferring to graze and snack all day, never taking the time for a proper meal.

There is a lot to unpack about this, but today we will focus on eating in a relaxed environment: Why? Because the environment affects digestion in so many ways! For the best digestion, eat-in calm, peaceful, visually pleasing environment. Outside listening to the sounds of nature is great when weather permits. Use your nice dishes and accessories, cloth napkins, fresh flowers. Treat yourself as you would a guest. Why is this important for your soul purpose? Because, when you eat on the go it is stressful to your nervous system and your digestive system, causing your food to digest in an irregular way. You may feel a heaviness or nausea, you may feel indigestion and burning or you may feel bloated and gassy. You may also feel stressed because not feeling well is stressful. This can result in you being less efficient in whatever it is you are trying to do. If you are trying to live your soul purpose this is going to slow you down a lot! Think about it, how much time do you spend not feeling well after eating?

When you eat in a calm environment you allow your body to relax and really feel nourished. This is a self-care ritual that you can do 2-3 times a day. If you think you don’t have time for it, think about how much time you spend with an uncomfortable gut after you eat. It is well worth the effort to plan a meal in a calm environment and to relax while eating. If you are eating with others keep the conversation light and pleasant. Obviously, there will be times it is not possible to eat this way. I invite you to just try it a few times this week and Notice how your body feels different. Take a moment to enjoy the taste of the food, close your eyes and notice how your body accepts the love and nourishment you are giving. You deserve to feel this way every day! And, the happy side effects you will enjoy are totally worth the effort!

2: Eat food prepared with love

When you prepare food with love, love is transferred to the food. Food that is prepared with love is going to digest and absorb with ease. If you are lucky enough to have a loved one cook for you, you have definitely felt this! They make your favorite things taste so yummy and your belly so happy! It makes sense that the opposite is true when a food prep environment is toxic, the toxins are transferred to the food. You could be using the finest healthiest ingredients and still cause a toxic effect if you are upset while prepping. It kinda makes you look at eating out a little differently! It is helpful to pray or meditate before cooking to get your mindset. Listening to uplifting, peaceful music or sounds helps keep you in the flow. This is basically foreplay for your digestive system. To make food prep a sensual ritual create a kitchen alter, this will bring a sense of reverence, you could include herbal plants that you feel connected to and want to add to your diet, along with a few other tokens from nature, beautiful plates or utensils that you love will create a sacred space of connection when you enter your kitchen… let the alchemy begin!

3: Have A Moment Of Grace Before Meals

This may be a prayer or a short affirmation or a moment of silence where you internally express gratitude for your food. Whatever resonates with you and best represents your beliefs. When this is done with awareness, you will enter the sacred space to receive your meal, to absorb and digest with greater ease.

4: Minimize Distractions

If you are eating alone try turning off the computer or other devices. Focusing on eating allows for better absorption and digestion. Play soft instrumental music or enjoy the silence and just be with your food in the environment you have created. If you are eating with others keep the conversation light and pleasant. Either way, try to savor each bite!

5: Mindset is Everything

Having a peaceful mind when eating is crucial to digestion. If you have ever seen a baby eat or breastfeed it will not be hard for you to conjure a visual image of what this looks like. They are in bliss while eating and the whole world disappears for them, they are 100 percent focused on that food and you know when they are satisfied because they stop eating and move on to the next thing, like smearing the leftovers into their hair! Never eat while you are angry or upset. This will cause the food to be indigestible creating toxins in the body. If you find yourself upset at mealtime, meditate to get yourself into a better mindset and/or delay the meal.

6: Chew each bite thoroughly

The slower you chew the less you eat, and the easier the digestion and absorption of nutrients. This is a pretty painless way to maintain weight or support weight loss. Swallowing chunks of food causes them to enter the stomach irregularly and compromise digestion. One of the main reasons for this is eating in a hurry, so chew until your food is the consistency of a smoothie. Remember, digestion begins in the mouth and that is the place to break it down. Stomachs don’t have teeth! And it’s hard to enjoy a meal in a hurry!

7: Eat Warm Food

Warm food digests easier than cold food so if you have any kind of digestion issues you may want to consider this. Cold food turns down the heat of our digestive fire and can slow digestion down to the point of turning food into toxins. Ayurveda is not against raw food, at least not the way I learned it. Ayurveda is not anti any food! Ayurveda is for digestion because you are not what you eat, what you really are depends on what your body can digest

8: Make it Unctuous Baby!

Foods that are wet and contain an appropriate amount of healthy fat, such as Ghee, Coconut oil or Olive oil, digest very efficiently and support the downward movement of Vata known as Apana. This adds suppleness to the tissues and radiance to the skin bringing out natural beauty. It also improves satiety allowing for feelings of ultimate nourishment, satisfaction, and happiness. Dry food is very hard to digest and eliminate.

9: Combine Foods Properly

Avoid taking foods together that have opposing qualities, for example, eating hot and cold food together may result in difficult digestion and uneven absorption of nutrients. Food combining can get complicated, however, it is important to remember to keep it simple and listen to your body.

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight you’ve probably heard that drinking a big glass of water before a meal helps fill you up so you eat less, This is also something parents are usually mindful of, letting kiddos fill up on fruit juice or water before eating gives them that false sense of being full and they just won’t eat, but to be sure they will be hungry right after you clean up the kitchen!!! Drinking too much before or with a meal can put out your digestive fire and it is true, you just won’t feel as hungry… that might sound like a good idea, but it’s just a hack, and not in a good way! We want to keep our digestive fire strong so that everything we eat is burned efficiently for fuel in our bodies. Our bodies know what to do with food! We are perfectly designed to digest! When we feel hungry that means our fire is high and ripe to digest a meal, then we dump a big glass of water on it and then we eat! Now the body struggles to digest and the food sits there creating discomfort and toxins! If you are eating a meal that is on the dry side, try ½ cup of water with the meal. With soups, no additional water is needed. If you must hydrate with a big glass of water before a meal, wait 30 minutes to eat or until you feel your internal fire stoking again. Wait 30 minutes after a meal to have more water, so your body has the chance to get going on digestion.

11: Avoid Cold Drinks

Cold drinks put out the digestive fire! Soooo, the liquids you are taking with your meal (refer to guideline 10) need to be room temperature or warmer. In general, it is best to make this a rule with all drinks all the time. You might start by not adding ice to your drinks and slowly build up to room temp. This is the perfect time of year to begin exploring the possibility that maybe ice cold isn’t best all the time! Ask for a cup of hot water instead of ice water next time you eat out. Sipping hot water is an excellent way to help your body detox. And… there are many lovely teas to explore! Yes, I still enjoy an ice-cold drink in the summer on a very hot day, that’s pretty much the only time it makes sense and yes, it has made a huge difference.

12: Feel Good About Your Food!

Whatever you are choosing to eat enjoy it to the fullest! Even when you are off your plan whatever that might be, make sure to have fun! It’s no good to judge yourself for eating a slice of delicious cake! When we eat with confidence we send a message to our digestive system that this is ok to digest. When we eat with fear of gaining weight or some other fear we send a message that this is not good for us and the body responds by not digesting the food properly and turning it to toxins! Yikes! So please, eat with confidence!!!

13: Stop Eating When You Are 75% Full

Being mindful of how much we eat is a game-changer. Overeating suppresses the digestive fire, causing stagnation, which causes toxins to build up. This is tricky for many people because we often don’t feel full when our bodies are satisfied. A good way to tell is to pay attention to your first burp. This is usually a very small subtle burp that you don’t even notice, but if you’re listening for it, you will, it may take a while to adapt especially if you are used to a more full feeling. Just remember, this subtle burp is your body telling you it is satisfied and you can stop eating. Burps get a little more intense after that. One of my Ayurveda teachers, Mary Thompson, said: “A yogi stops at the first burp, a Bogi stops at the second and a Rogi waits until the third”! By the third, you know you have overeaten! To begin to listen for that first subtle burp, notice how your body feels, notice the difference between satisfaction and overly full.

14: Rest After Eating

Eating is a big production for your body! A lot of things get put into action during digestion, so it is wise to take a little rest afterward. Going right back to your busy day will hinder digestion. This rest is not necessarily taking a nap, rather a more active rest, such as a slow-paced walk in calm surroundings, or reading a peaceful book. Avoid too much mental or physical activity for at least 20 minutes and ideally up to an hour if possible. This will allow your body to go through the first stage of digestion.

15: Wait At Least Three Hours Between Meals

This is the minimal amount of time needed to fully digest a meal. More if you have eaten something heavy or have sluggish digestion. Begin to notice this in your body. How long until your appetite returns? Often we are doing so much snacking and mindless eating that we never allow a full digestive process to complete. This can be hard on the body as every time we snack the process begins again without having finished digesting the previous meal, and most likely will cause digestive issues.

I hope this review of the15 Ayurvedic Food Guidelines has been helpful. I truly believe that this, followed along with a diet of fresh seasonal whole foods is the magical eating formula we have all been seeking! Very often bringing awareness to the way we are doing something is all that is needed to bring the desired result. If you are following this plan and still having digestive issues, or want to learn more about how to implement this plan into your life, contact me for an Ayurvedic consultation.

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Intuitive Beauty Ritual Series: Nasal Cleansing

Years ago, I had a sinus infection. I had been on a round of antibiotics which seemed to help during the ten-day treatment, but it came back right after. I was so frustrated knowing I would have to go back and get more antibiotics, which probably wouldn’t work, while further compromising my gut health. I was a mess. It was New Years Day and I really did not want to go to a clinic! I somehow remembered the Neti pot and thought I’d give it a try, after all, what could it hurt? It was the very best thing I could have done! It was instant relief. I did it three times that day and the next. My sinus infection cleared up, and I saved all the time, money, and aggravation of going to the clinic and exposing myself to more pathogens. I continue to use my neti pot daily. I have never had another sinus infection.

Over the years, I have grown to love my Nasal cleansing practice for the many benefits it gives me. Breath is life! Being able to breathe clearly through both nostrils is essential for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Taking the time to do it correctly is a worthy investment.

Beauty and wellness benefits of nasal cleansing:

Removes Allergens, pollutants, and irritants from your nasal passages. Okay, let that sink in. We have allergens, pollution and other irritants lurking in our face, yuk! That is a stand-alone reason to practice nasal cleansing! I always think about putting my skincare and makeup on a clean canvas.
Breathe deeper allowing more oxygen into your body makes your mind calm and blissful and your pranayama practice more effective, also brings more oxygen to your body to support everything you do
Breathe better, sleep better
Help relieve sinus pressure
Food tastes and smells better, eat less enjoy it more, feel more satisfied

How To:

Use distilled or purified water. I use RO water that I boil and cool to 98-100 degrees. A wrist test works to determine if the temperature is ok. Never use tap water! Use about ¼ to ½ tsp good salt depending on the size of your pot. I use Himalayan Pink.
Tilt your head to one side over a sink, open your mouth and insert the tip of the pot into the top nostril. Allow the water to flow into one nostril and out the other. Blow your nose and repeat on the other side.
When you are finished take a drop of oil, such as sesame, apply onto your finger and rub it inside the nose to lubricate the tissue. Or even better follow with Nasya which I will describe in my next blog.

Intuitive Beauty Ritual Series: The Magic, Art, and Science of Self-Assessment

You have everything you need already inside of you. You are beautiful and intuitive! You came here to express yourself in a particular way. When you believe and trust this, you can access your inner wisdom.

The Magic of self-assessment is a felt intuitive knowing, a sensing of your own needs. These skills are not taught in school, we have always had them. It is our dharma to claim this knowing and learn how to use it correctly!

The Art of Self Assessment is something you have been practicing your whole life. You assess your needs and create a plan to meet them. Every day of your life you use this art to create a feeling of comfort in your life. Sometimes you might even create a comfortable rut for yourself! This is where the science comes in to provide some 5000-year-old wisdom that can pull you up out of the rut and save you time, money and energy.

The Science of Self-Assessment is a learned skill. Great news right?! There is a guidebook to you! Knowing the right questions and what to look for are the skills needed. This includes the physical needs of caring for the inside and outside of the body, emotional needs, intellectual needs, and spiritual needs. This takes some time, but is worth every moment, because it is a skill that lasts for the rest of your life, saving you an endless amount of time and money looking for the answers outside of yourself.

This is why I created my Tantric Beauty Coaching Program for intuitive women. I unpack all of these powerful resources and so much more for you. I will coach you on how to use these life-changing assessment tools according to your unique constitution, and you will develop a skill set that lasts a lifetime. Contact me for a Free Discovery Session to see if you are a good fit for my program.

Now for a review of the previous blog posts in the Beauty Ritual Series: I hope you are now doing Intuitive Beauty Rituals for Your Soul and Tongue Scraping daily! This week take a moment to reflect on these rituals and check in with yourself. Are you feeling more clarity? Are you feeling fresher, is food tasting better? These are just a couple of tools with much deeper roots that I expand on in my program Tantric Beauty Coaching.

Intuitive Beauty Ritual Series: Tongue Scraping

Beauty is a bazillion dollar a year industry, mostly involving products that are applied or injected. In the never-ending quest to stay young and beautiful, there is a lot of illusion. Most of the focus is on anti-aging products applied on or injected into the skin, and hair cut/color/style with the emphasis on products. I’m not saying you should stop using products, makeup, or stop doing your hair. That’s all great and fun. I’m saying it is only a small part of the story. There is so much more to beauty than this!

I have been in the beauty industry for 30 years, and it never fails to amaze me just how much people are willing to spend on beauty products while completely ignoring the most truly effective way to slow the aging process… daily self-care. So, I decided to do a blog series on this topic.

I already covered eye washing in a previous blog, but here is an overview. Eyewash with intention, so the person looking through the eyes is seeing clearly, not only because debris has been removed, but also mental clarity is improved. The eyes will be bright and beautiful, you will not need makeup, who wouldn’t want to look beautiful with no makeup? And when you do want to wear makeup, you’ve got a pristine canvas for maximum effect!

Today I am going to cover Tongue Scraping. You might be wondering what this has to do with beauty… when you scrape your tongue, you are not only removing toxins (known as Ama in Ayurveda) but also stimulating your organs to release toxins as well since different areas of the tongue are directly related to the bodies organs. Not only that it improves digestion further supporting feelings of well being and weight balancing. Removing toxins by Tongue Scraping also stimulates taste buds making food taste better, which has many benefits like maybe eating less because you really taste the food and feel more satisfied. Another benefit is fresher smelling breath, increasing confidence when in close proximity to others!

What to Remember about the Beauty Benefits of Tongue Scraping

Removes toxins from tongue and organs: Beauty Benefit – body operates more efficiently; therefore the body looks more beautiful. We need to clean the inside too!
Improves digestion: Beauty Benefit – feelings of well being, and weight balancing, overall wellness.
Food tastes better: Beauty Benefit – so many benefits! Eat less, enjoy more, balance weight!
Breath smells fresher; mouth feels cleaner: Beauty Benefit – Feel fresh and confident.

How?

Buy a tongue scraper; they are simple and easy to use. Scrape your tongue 3-7 times before brushing teeth, eating or drinking. Do this only in the morning since stimulating your organs at night might keep you awake. Do not brush your tongue with a toothbrush. This pushes the toxins in deeper.

Here I have shared with you a basic self-care technique to enhance your beauty and wellness. Since there is a lot more to learn from the tongue, a full tongue assessment is part of an Ayurvedic Consultation. Contact me for more information.

Intuitive Beauty Rituals for Your Soul

According to Ayurveda, the eyes are governed by the Pitta Dosha, which represents Fire and a little Water. Pitta is responsible for digesting food, thoughts, incoming information, everything you see and touch. On a Spiritual level, Pitta can help you to comprehend and literally see the truth. Being mindful of what we look at on our screens and out in the world is one way of caring for our spiritual vision. Another beautiful practice to include in your routine is eye washing. Physically this practice cleans, strengthens, and beautifies the eyes. Spiritually, eye washing can be done with the intention of having mental clarity.

Equally important is caring for our mind. Thoughts, music, conversations, TV, video games… all of this has to get digested! If we overdo it, it’s kind of like when we overeat and our body develops digestive issues, our mind does too! Being mindful of sensory impressions and checking in with yourself are good ways to manage Pitta in the mind. Listen to beautiful music, have uplifting conversations, and look for the beauty in everything!

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