Charlotte

As the hot, sunny weather of summer arrives, fire element—agni tattva—burns brightly in us. This fire energy ignites the third chakra (manipura), promoting healing, transformation, growth, and manifestation. Agni tattva also revs pitta, Ayurvedic dosha (bio-elemental energy) peaking in summer, propelling digestion and metabolism. Excessive agni and pitta are likely to trigger anxiety, restlessness, anger, irritability, heartburn, constipation, heavy menstrual bleeding, or dry skin. Alternatively, weak pitta and agni can manifest as slow digestion, fatigue, weak immune system, weight gain, or depression. Fortunately, Ayurveda—yoga’s sister science—provides easy advice on balancing pitta and agni with diet. Hydrate and Eat Raw The easiest way to prevent pitta from … Read more

Autumn’s Hidden Effects on Our Well-Being We all behold the golden leaves falling, but Autumn’s shorter, cooler, and windier days do more than transform the landscape—they subtly affect how we feel within. Both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda (the ancient sister science of yoga) instruct us that being in harmony with the natural rhythm of each season is the key to health. And the best way to achieve it? A simple principle: opposites attract balance. How Food Affects Your Energy & Health What we eat profoundly influences our prana—our life-force energy—dictating our inner balance and overall wellness. Using … Read more

In Ayurveda, it is believed that each bite you consume will hurt or heal you. Nutrition and food comprise approximately 50% of the remedies practiced in Ayurvedic medicine, and how well this works demonstrates just how much influence food has on our health and well-being. The Ayurvedic diet begins with the premise that food is not just about pleasure or craving. It’s about what you’re eating, how it’s cooked, where you’re eating, who you’re eating with, and even your frame of mind when you’re eating. When we listen to these details, we can introduce more balance into our lives—just by changing the way we eat. The Second Key: Knowing Your Dosha The other key component of achieving balance using Ayurveda … Read more

Have you ever noticed how the food you consume influences your yoga practice? Some foods obviously create more internal turmoil than others—consider bloating or indigestion. But it’s also interesting to see how some foods quietly impact your head and temperament. Ayurveda, yoga’s sister philosophy, provides us with a profound awareness of how various foods affect not only our physical well-being but also our mental acuity and even spiritual resilience. In Ayurveda, Sattva signifies purity, equilibrium, and spiritual excellence—manifesting as wisdom, awareness, virtue, and joy. Sattvic foods nourish the body and mind, promoting tranquility, lucidity, and compassion. These foods are soothing, nourishing, and promote a calm, steady mind while enhancing intelligence and empathy. A sattvic diet is always vegetarian, not consuming anything from animals … Read more

Winter: A Time for Rest, But Also for Nourishment We all know winter is the season of slowing down. Plants take a break, animals disappear into their dens, and the days grow short and dark. But what’s not so obvious is how to live—and eat—in a way that works with winter’s energy rather than against it. Because … Read more

Over the past few years, “gluten-free” has turned into a buzzword and a fast-growing niche in the food industry. But with new health trends constantly popping up, it can be tough to figure out what’s legit and what’s just hype. When it comes to gluten-free diets, more than any other recent food trend, the debate … Read more

The shift from winter to spring can feel intense—not just in nature but within our bodies, too. Our hearts eagerly embrace spring’s promise of rebirth, fresh starts, renewal, and growth. Yet, our bodies feel weary and slow, weighed down by winter’s buildup of toxins, and our minds may still carry the heaviness of cold, dark … Read more

Food plays such a huge role in our daily lives—one way or another, so much of our time revolves around eating and feeding ourselves. But it’s easy to lose awareness of what we’re actually consuming: just one more drink, another slice of cake, a handful of chocolates here and there…sound familiar? You don’t need to … Read more

The döner kebab spun slowly on its spit, juices dripping as the golden-brown meat glistened under the fluorescent lights of the train station. I was waiting for my overnight train from Budapest to Munich, stomach growling, when the smell pulled me in. I devoured one right there and even ordered an extra for the long … Read more