Appetizers are a must for any get-together, especially a holiday get-together! These vegetarian appetizers are quick and easy to prepare so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests.
Tomato-Avocado Toasts. Mashed avocado and tomatoes make a colorful, delicious holiday appetizer!
To the Holidays,
Kelly Krishna Dunn
The royal Shirodhara treatment is powerful and unique. A relaxing panchakarma treatment, a stream of warm oil flows evenly over the forehead, long lasting and is done in absolute silence. Leading to deep serenity and a balanced state of tranquility in mind and body. It is a gem of Ayurveda and they say it is the treatment of the third eye of Lord Shiva. It has extraordinary effectiveness.
It cleanses, refreshes and stimulates the elimination of toxins. This will act on diseases of the eye, ear, head and scalp (hair).
It provides a deep soothing in a non-intrusive way and calms stress, fatigue, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, restoring the strength and balance of the nervous system.
The master gland command known as the pituitary gland is stimulated by the oil on the forehead all other endocrine glands of the hormonal system as well and has great importance in mood balance.
Finally, it is a beauty treatment that works on regenerating the skin, soothing and smoothing wrinkles. The state of relaxation is increasingly profound. The oil temperature is chosen according to the doshas. Vata, Pitta, Kapha. This wonderful oil is prepared with plants according to ancient recipes which make it medicinal.
If you are looking to deeply relax, restore restful sleep, strength or energy and seeking to balance the nervous system. Shirohadara treatment is one of a kind and like no other.
To Panchakarma,
Kelly Krishna Dunn
Ahimsa is the acme of bravery and the quality of the strong. The law of Ahimsa is as much exact and precise as the law of gravitation. Know the correct way to apply it intelligently and with accuracy. If you are able to apply it with precision, you can work wonders. The practice of Ahimsa develops the heart in a wonderful manner.
How to integrate Ahimsa in everyday life?
Whether you’re experienced in yoga or just beginning, integrating the practice of ahimsa in everyday life can lead to beautiful strides. Ahimsa is one of the five yamas, which are ethical, moral imperative guidelines for yogis. Ahimsa can be integrated into a practice of non-harming other living beings, nonviolence in all aspects of life from the physical to the mental and emotional. Nonviolence is defined by honest compassion and true divine love. You can achieve this by embracing love, learn to love deeply, and also to receive love. However, this is challenging to do if you choose to avoid or ignore certain traits held within yourself.
You can incorporate ahimsa into daily activities. For instance, some yogis do not eat meat. Whatever you choose to do with your diet, focus on practicing self love in all you do. Another way to bring ahimsa into your life is through compassion. It is the potential to accept events as is with an open heart and to let go of reacting in any negative way by replacing those feelings with loving kindness and acceptance. Yoga gives the chance to practice non-violence in your mind at the same time cultivate  awareness of your own thoughts to find if there are hints of harm and revenge against yourself or others in your life. Become the witness, observe and recognize these thoughts as they come into your consciousness and then watch as they again leave.
How to Practice Ahimsa in the Mind and Body?
The power of Ahimsa is greater than the power of the intellect. It is easy to develop the intellect, but it is difficult to purify and develop the heart. To understand how non violence can manifest in our lives everyday, it is best to learn first how subtle daily actions and responses are filled with the elements of violence. This often happens against ourselves. Harsh speech, wounding the feelings of others by gesture, expression, tone of voice and unkind words. By injuring another, you injure your own Self. Injure none in thought, word and action. Give a chance to behold your own Self in all beings. This will promote Ahimsa.
Trial and difficulties are bound to come in your way on your path to test your strength. If it is challenging to forgive someone for something they have done against you, or if you find it hard to forgive yourself for something you’ve done, you are hurting yourself by not letting go and this creates no space for love to enter or to dissolve any hostile nature.  Everyone holds pain inside themselves, by forgiving you can overcome trials in a positive way and watch how doors will open to a new understanding.
The perfection of forgiveness and the presence of Ahimsa is a soul-force more subtle than electricity or magnetism. There is a hidden power which protects its practitioners. The Yogi then enjoys the highest bliss, peace and immortality.
How Can A Yoga Practice Assist with Ahimsa?
Yoga is a phenomenal way to access ahimsa in our daily interactions. By practicing yoga, you can confront your own inner darkness with light and compassion. This then paves the way for transforming negative emotions without acting on these feelings. Yoga creates the avenue to getting in touch with harm you hold inside through releasing negative energy through positive intentions and transcends the negative aspects of yourself, creating peace in the world around you.
We can understand ahimsa as the being mindful of thoughts. Thoughts naturally move in and out of our minds. Holding onto harmful thoughts affects well being. Diet and exercise are important for your health, but if you do not have healthy thoughts then unhealthy thoughts can harm you causing emotional injury to the self. When you turn your yoga practice into a complete lifestyle, it can guide daily interactions with yourself and others. Keeping this in mind as yoga practice lets us move out of negative thoughts in the mind and about the body. We can then accept ourselves totally, no matter how flexible or how strong we may be.
This translates to all aspects of our lives. Embracing ahimsa will improve well being as well as those around you. It comes from deep within the heart. May all beings everywhere be happy and free.Â
To Ahimsa,
Kelly Krishna Dunn
Ayurveda sees bathing as a therapeutic activity. The morning soak is a vital part of the dinacharya, or daily routine. A leisurely soak relaxes tense muscles, opens clogged pores, restores moisture, and adds a healing dimension to your day.
Bathing has forever been an ancient and sacred activity. Throughout explorations of ancient India’s Indus valley Civilization in Mohenjo-Daro, archaeologists unearthed a gigantic pool-like structure with steps leading down at each ends. This is often believed to have been public tubs. Additionally, homes during this astonishingly advanced civilization had their own personal baths.
Not only India, many different world cultures have treated the bathtub as a healing activity. In ancient Greece, water was thought to be a present of health. In Rome, ruins of hot and cold sunken baths will still be seen at Pompeii.
As the world discovered the comfort and pleasure hot healing soak-baths may bring, new ways that were found to create it a healing expertise.
Ancient Ayurvedic texts speak of therapeutic baths that includes rose petals, milk, honey, and turmeric. Preceded by an opulent full-body heat oil massage and followed by the applying of wealthy sandalwood paste and floral waters on the skin, the Ayurvedic bathtub was designed to revive balance to mind, body and spirit.
Namaste,
Kelly Krishna Dunn
To Ayurveda,
Kelly Krishna Dunn 🙂
A healthy glowing face and a brightly, burning light in the eyes- the flow and glow of radiant health is something that is universally appealing and desirable. According to Ayurveda this radiance around the body is called Ojas. Optimum ojas is the key to perfect health, balanced and blissful emotions, and even the unfolding of inner spiritual development. Ojas promotes longevity and a high amount of Ojas means everything we eat is transformed into toxin-free energy creating a vibrantly alert and blissful state of mind and emotions.
Beauty sleep, includes not only enough sleep with 7-8 hours being optimal for most people, but at the right times, and supported by the proper diet and routine during the day. Just missing a few good nights of sleep makes it clear how health, beauty, mood and productivity during the day are profoundly affected by how well we sleep at night. All impact the quality of our sleep at night- and how fresh and beautiful we look in the morning.
Staying up past 10pm, this aggravates vata and pitta, and can promote skin dryness, redness and a tired look the next day. Sleeping past 6am. This aggravates kapha and promotes puffiness. Drinking lots of coffee and other caffeinated beverages can interfere with good sleep, as well as dehydrating your body and skin.
To wake up fresh and beautiful from your sleep listen to your body and take rest, you will then be grateful for the beauty rest that keeps the aura radiating and glowing.
Take an early morning walk in the rising sun. It is one of the best-kept secrets to Beauty.
To sweet dreams,
Kelly Krishna Dunn 🙂
Abhyanga is a pleasant prescription for Mind/Body Health. A ritual so luxuriously relaxing, so blissfully comforting as a full-body warm oil massage, revs up your body and mind.
Accumulated stress and toxins in the mind and body dissolve during the daily massage. A daily full-body warm oil massage therefore acts as a powerful recharger and rejuvenator of mind and body.
Abhyanga – the Ayurvedic oil massage – is an integral part of the daily routine recommended by this healing system for overall health and well being. It is nourishing, pacifies the doshas, relieves fatigue, provides stamina, pleasure and perfect sleep, enhances complexion of the skin, promotes longevity and nourishes all parts of the body.
How is the Ayurvedic abhyanga done? Use comfortable warm massage oil. Then massage the entire body. Apply light pressure on the sensitive areas such as the abdomen or the heart. Circular motions over rounded areas such as your head or joints, and straight strokes on straight areas such as your arms and legs work best. After your done, relax for 10-15 min, letting the oil and the massage do their magic. The longer the oil is on, the deeper it penetrates. Then follow with a relaxing warm bath or shower. You’ll find the process worth it!!
To Ayurveda,
Kelly Krishna Dunn
Intuitive Magazine 