Approaching Your Health, Weight (or Yoga Practice) From a Place of Wholeness

Perennial philosophy is the philosophical concept, which states that each of the world’s religious traditions share a single universal truth.

We are each an individualized consciousness that is the manifestation of a Divine Ground. As human beings we possess a double nature, an egoist self and an eternal Self, which is the spirit, the spark of divinity within the soul. A human’s life on earth has only one end purpose: to identify the egoist self with the eternal Self and so to come to the united knowledge of the Divine Ground.

Our religions share a similar story: a tale of how we started as a whole, connected to the divine, until something occurred to create separation. In the Old Testament we learn of the temptations within the Garden of Eden, the wounding and our fall from grace.

We start to believe that we are alone, separate from the divine. We forget about the internal glory of the divine and focus fully on external victories, out-winning “others”. Our approach of ‘self against else’ leads us to hatred, violence and destruction towards others or ourselves.

Many of us struggle with health, weight and body image issues. We can spend decades of our life resenting our bodies until we exhaust ourselves fighting these issues. We often need to reach exhaustion before we have an awakening. We realize that in a physical and psychological battle against ourselves there is no winner.

Having spent years resentful of our bodies, we get trapped in the limited belief that medical and nutritional ailments can only be healed by medical and nutritional strategies. As an example, we are taught that excess weight can only be lost by less food and more exercise or by the use of a drug.

While this holds some truth, it does not paint an entire picture. For many of us the issues are not nutritional, they are psychological. Every issue we face with the body is somehow linked with heart, mind and soul. Thoughts, feeling, and beliefs all affect nutrition, too. While we can heal ourselves by dietary means, we need to move deeper into ourselves if we want to create true healing.

We carry the divine spark within us; we are perfect as we are. Yet there is a journey and on this journey, we receive clues. Each of our symptoms hints towards the things that we do that is not an expression of our authentic self. When we learn to understand our symptoms, we learn what we need to let go of.

When we don’t listen to the mild symptoms, they get louder until they grab our attention. Rather than attack our symptoms or try to rapidly get rid of them, let’s listen and learn from them. As we authentically evolve, the symptoms will dissolve.

One of my clients recently shared how once she realized that each pound of her excess weight carried a divine message, she began to feel lighter in her body. The embodiment of lightness and sense of universal support has made it easy for her to embrace a healthy lifestyle and lose weight with no feeling of fight or depravation.

Our health challenges are doorways to deeper places in our lives that call for healing. The body lives downstream to the soul. Improved health or achieving a healthy weight is the result of our practice but it is not the practice itself. The practice is carrying out our authentic service to the world.

As we empower ourselves as individuals, our metabolic power and physical vitality increases. When we learn to step out of our own way, true healing can take place.

Ghee (Clarified Butter): What Is It? And Why You Want To Use It

According to Ayurveda, ghee is said to be beneficial for the whole body. Traditionally, ghee has been used to promote memory and brain function as well as heal inflammation and enhance digestion. Modern science tells us that ghee also harbors phenolic antioxidants which bolster the immune system. 

If you are familiar with the doshas in ayurvedic medical philosophy, ghee is best for Vatas, soothing for Pittas, and balancing for Kaphas in moderation. For cold, dry, stiff and airy (Vata) types, ghee adds heaviness and lubrication to the body in the joints and in digestion. Ghee is cooling and soothing for the fire-based ailments (Pitta), such as fever, acidity, and inflammation. For all three doshas, ghee helps memory and is a healthy fat that is good for the liver and immune system, though Kaphas should consume it in moderation as it also helps build body mass.

Ghee is none other than butter that has been clarified; having had the impurities of saturated fat and milk solids removed.  Ghee is lactose-free.

In yoga, ghee is said to lubricate the connective tissues and promote flexibility,

You can use ghee as you would use butter. Remember that ghee is fat, and only a certain amount of total fat is necessary in the diet.

You'll find ghee at the health food store, or you can easily make it yourself.

* When buying or making ghee, or any dairy product, look for organic. All toxins like to settle in body fat, and especially mammary glands, which makes it important to choose organic animal products like milk and butter, otherwise they tend to be the most laden with impurities like pesticides, herbicides and other toxins found in air, water and feed.

How To Make Ghee

Cut 1 pound of unsalted butter into large cubes (keep all cubes at approximately the same size) and melt over a medium-low heat in a heavy pot with a rather thick bottom and high sides.

When the melted butter starts boiling, it will begin to create a popping sound as moisture evaporates from the butter. You may need to adjust the heat slightly to be sure you hear constant sizzling and spitting sounds.

As the butter continues to boil uncovered, the amount of foam will decrease. You will notice curd solids beginning to form and sink to the bottom of the pot. As a result, the butter will become more and more transparent.

From time to time, gently stir the surface with a wooden spoon to better check the transparency of the melted butter. Don't go deep with the spoon; the purpose is not to stir but to check if the clarified butter is taking a clear golden color.

When the clarified butter has become transparent and there is very little foam left on the surface, the ghee is ready. All solids should have settled in the bottom by now. This process should take anywhere between 10-15 minutes depending on the cooking heat.

As soon as it turns a beautiful golden color and begins to smell like popcorn, immediately remove the ghee from the heat. At this stage it can burn very quickly. If the ghee has become darker in color, it has been overcooked.

Let it cool a little. Pour the golden liquid through a fine sieve, a tea strainer or cheesecloth into a glass jar. Discard the brownish curds at the bottom of the pot.

Clarified butter can be kept covered without refrigeration. Once cool it will solidify like butter.

Anti-inflammatory Sweet Ghee Spread

6 Tbs. of ghee
4 Tbs. of honey (preferably raw.) Amount can be adjusted according to your liking.
6 tsp. of turmeric
6 tsp. of cinnamon
5 tsp. of ginger (dried, not fresh)

Mix the ghee and honey in a jar. You may need to soften them by placing the jar in a bowl of hot water (or soften in microwave). Mix in all spices and store in a tight-lid jar. This spread can last for months without spoiling. Enjoy it on toast..