I’m back from Telluride and of course every lovely retreat and getaway for me usually ends in coming home to chaos.  I never seem to plan a  day of regrouping after a trip and of course the universe always likes to throw small business owners a few wrenches.

Telluride was an exceptional experience.  It also involved a lot of work on my end organizing, planning, teaching, and presenting.  I think I might just be a weeeeeee bit tired.  Traveling has thrown me off balance and the social aspects of the trip have thrown me off course.  (Translate that to I got back on coffee).   I’ve also put on a few pounds.  This always happens to me on vacation regardless of the quality of food because my Vata disrupts and sends a signal to my body to hold and ground my energy.

So, today is hardcore.  Cold-turkey on the coffee.  Yogi Breakfast.  Fruit, Veggies, and Basmati rice only for a few days to flush this system. Solitude, quiet, and gently organizing life.

Below is a lovely flush for anyone if you have been traveling or just need a total regroup to get your health back in order.

Organize:

1.    Mentally prepare and begin to incorporate the meditation practice. 

2.    Go to the Grocery Store. 

(day 1, 2, 3)    (If you are VATA, this is day 1 – 7.  Don’t go further than this.)

Breakfast:

·      Drink a cup of hot water with lemon first thing in the morning.  (You may drink this 15 minutes prior to ANY meal)

·      Within one hour later….Eat fruit for breakfast…berries are best.

Snack (options…not all of them at once):

·      Ginger tea when you get a craving, after meals, and before bedtime.

·      Pamela’s favorite energy up juice (recipe below) or glass of carrot juice

·      Berries, nuts (especially almonds and walnuts), dates, dried fruit

·      Yogi Breakfast (recipe below)

·      Yogi Energy Drink (recipe below)

Lunch:

·      “one pot meal” or dahl (recipe below)

·      Steamed veggies

Dinner

·      Basmati Rice

·      Steamed Veggies

or

·      Soup with a slice of multi-grain bread

 (day 4, 5)  (If you are PITTA, follow as above and then take this through Day 7).

Breakfast:

·      Drink a cup of hot water with lemon first thing in the morning.

·      Fruit Juice Beverage

Snack:

·      No snacking

Lunch and Dinner

The intent is to only drink juice.  If you are simply starving but want to maintain your fast have a small serving of “one pot meal” served very hot and eaten very slowly.  Chew each bite 15 – 25 times if possible and sip warm water between bites.

·      Juice

(day 6),  (This is only for KAPHA dosha)

This is an all water day. 

 Day (7)

This is a 1/2 day of water

Dinner (breaking the fast): 

Basmati rice

Before bed: 

Yogi Drink

DAY (8)

Eat for your dosha or your state of imbalance.  Yogi Drink is perfect to begin each day with.  If you can maintain one meal each day of either “one pot meal” or “basmati rice with steamed vegetables”, you will thrive.

 

Recipes

Energy Up Juice

·      1 carrot

·      1 celery

·      1 apple

·      2 cups of leafy greens…spinach, kale or other

·      1 square cube of fresh ginger

·      Cumin to taste

·      Cayenne pepper to taste

Blend all in a juicer and drink it down!  Yummy.

Yogi Energy Drink (Recipe is from “Food as Medicine” by Dharma Singh Khalsa

·      ½ cup water

·      1 teaspoon turmeric powder

·      8 ounces of non-milk milk (soy, rice, hemp, almond)

·      3 – 5 dates

·      1 Tablespoon almond oil

·      1 teaspoon honey

Place water and turmeric in a pot.  Boil until the turmeric has a paste like consistency, thick and viscous, and then add non-milk milk.  Stir well and bring to a boil.  Chop the dates and add to the milk.  Let boil for 3 minutes and then let cool for a few minutes

In a blender, place the almond oil, the mixture you just made, and honey.  Blend.  Consume within 2 – 3 hours and do refrigerate. 

Yogi Breakfast

  • ·      8 unsalted almonds
  • 1 cup of non-milk milk like soy milk, almond milk or rice milk
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • Nutmeg
  • Cinnamon
  • Dried Ginger (optional)
  • Turmeric (optional)

Get out a small pan.  Place the almonds in the bottom of the pan.  Pour the milk over and heat on low until milk is warm and bubbles just on the edge. Remove from heat and poor in a mug.  Add the honey, nutmeg and cinnamon to taste.  Enjoy.

 

One Pot meal or “Dahl” or “Kitchardi”

  • 1 bag mung dal, if split, you do not have to soak.  If whole, soak for an hour or even overnight.  Mung dal or lentils are red, yellow and green.  Dal is a Sanskrit word for lentils.  The red dal tends to be more heating.
  • Vegetable broth or water
  • Garlic, minced
  • Onion, chopped
  • Celery, chopped
  • Carrots, chopped
  • Organic salt/pepper, to taste
  • Cumin, 2 or more tablespoons
  • Cayenne pepper, to taste
  • Basmati Rice

Always rinse your beans before cooking and remove any discolored beans.  Place mung dal (lentils) in pot and cover lentils with vegetable broth.  Bring to boil and then reduce to simmer.  Add garlic, onions, celery, carrots, salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper.  Simmer on low until beans are cooked through.  You may cover with a lid.  You will have to keep checking the liquid level and adding broth or water to keep moist.  This should take 40 minutes or so.

 

 

You may add the rice to your pot and cook all as one or cook rice separately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda, yoga, and meditation. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.