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Greetings!
A core philosophy of Ayurveda is that beauty is an essential aspect of our being and that it radiates from within. In the U. S. we have a cultural obsession with outer beauty and standards of perfection. Cate Blanchett was praised in blogs recently when she appeared on the cover of "Intelligent Life", a lifestyle and culture magazine from The Economist, in a completely non-photoshopped photo. She appeared in her working clothes and looking like the 42 year old woman that she is. That made news.
We have become accustomed to displays of airbrushed perfection that take out wrinkles and resize bodies. In comparison we may feel flawed and inferior. Ayurveda unlocks our magnificent, peaceful, and unique radiant beauty that reveals the depth of our wholeness. As we live and grow, our beauty is formed from the maturing alchemy of our life intelligence, our capacities to understand with compassion, our personality that drags less baggage into communication, our soulful expression, and grace in our posture and movements.
Even though skin is an outer shell, it reflects the inner workings of our body. Healthy radiant skin begins with diet. When we eat in ways to balance (see dosha balancing tips) our out-of-balance dosha(s), we give ourselves the best shot at awesome health that shines through our radiant skin. Summer is Pitta time--so we also want to eat foods that are cooling to hot Pitta.
So diet is primo, and we can also nourish the skin externally. There is a principle in Ayurveda skin care, "If you cannot eat it, do not put it on your skin." Our skin ingests nutrients. Because your skin is intelligent, it can rejuvenate naturally, when we honor the needs of our skin. Each square inch of skin contains 1300 nerve endings that send messages directly to your brain. What message do you want to send? A message of tenderness and respect perhaps? Try some diet , lifestyle and natural ways to nourish your skin this summer. Shine on.
Live with radiant intention and be well, in gratitude, Rhonda
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Cool It: It's Pitta Time
Summer, also known as the Pittta season, is not quite here yet and already the temps are sizzling. We may have noticed that we have a shorter fuse, drier or inflamed skin, or digestive issues.
Even if your primary dosha imbalance is not Pitta, we want to keep our Pitta fire element in balance during the heat of the summer. The plan is to stay cool and hydrated to nourish the radiant glow of healthy skin and to prevent Pitta aggravations from arising such as: heartburn, excessive body heat and sweating, anger, skin rashes, early graying, or excess stomach acid. So cool it with Pitta pacifying beverages, food, activity, and state of mind/emotions.
1. Drink cooling beverages. As you probably know, drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day is important to flush toxins and replace fluids lost to perspiration. But don't go for iced or carbonated beverages because these disrupt your digestion. Room temp to slightly cool beverages are best in the heat of the summer (warm beverages other times of the year).
Sweet fruit juices such as grape, pear, or pineapple are especially pacifying to Pitta. Boiled and cooled milk with a pinch of cardamom soothes Pitta and nourishes your skin.
Avoid caffeine, sugar-laden drinks, and alcohol. These are toxic to the liver and when the liver is overloaded it can no longer do its job of screening out toxins. Ads for colas make them appear thirst quenching but they actually dehydrate your skin. Alcoholic drinks are even more dehydrating.
2. Eat Foods that Cool the Body and Hydrate the Skin. In the summer you want to purify and hydrate the skin. Start by eating at least one sweet, juicy fruit a day such as melon, pear, grapes, peach, nectarine, cherries, avocado, or plum.
Choose moist cooling vegetables like zucchini and other summer squashes, broccoli, asparagus, cucumbers, and green leafy vegetables. Lightly sauteing is good. Make a mung or red lentil soup to nourish and hydrate.
Try cooking with coconut oil--very cooling. Be generous with cilantro, sweet basil, and parsley in your recipes. Cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, coriander, and fennel are good spices for the summer.
Milk, ghee and white basmati rice are great choices as well.
2. Choose "cool"exercise. Swimming is very cooling for  Pitta. A leisurely stroll in the early morning or evening can get the blood circulating while soothing Pitta. Ayurveda says a walk in the moonlight is just right for Pitta.
3. Chill. Heated emotions heat the body and the skin in particular. Watching violent movies, being around angry people or feeling too much anger yourself can heat your emotions. We aggravate Pitta when we overwork, experience time/deadline pressures, and get stuck in heated emotions. Breathe and balance work with leisure. Plan a vacation or even a few short getaways. Set limits on what you are able to do.
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Ayurveda Summer Skin Care
Normally, there is a natural balance in the skin. When the skin warms, the means to moisturize and cool itself is activated. However, when overheated too much or too often, skin burns up the moisturizing functions of the skin and can cause early aging, because there isn't enough moisture to prevent wrinkles and age spots from forming.
1. Protect Yourself from the Sun. Try to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day. Prepare yourself for outings by wearing a wide brimmed hat, a covering shirt and good sun glasses. Eat a sweet juicy fruit before going out in the sun and hydrate. If you will be in the sun, see the right side bar for healthy, effective sunscreen info.
2. Treat Your Skin to Organic Rose Water. You can find organic rose water spritzer in most health stores. Just a little spritz will cool your jets. Rose calms Pitta.
3. Abhyanga Massage. To really nourish your skin deeply, moisturize it, and eliminate toxins from the skin and body, try the Ayurveda self oil massage called abhyanga. If we have dry vata skin, we often use sesame oil for the massage oil but, in the summer, you may want to try coconut oil because of its cooling qualities.
4. Mildly Sunburned? Smooth on some coconut oil or apply cucumber or aloe juice.
5. Cool Your Eyes. There is a Pitta connection between, skin, eyes, and emotions. In the evening, splash your eyes with cool water. Apply a little Organic Rose Water to a cotton pad, then lie down with your eyes closed and the pad over your eyes for five minutes. Do this daily for a refreshing effect on your eyes, and consequently a cooling effect on your emotions and skin.
6. Skeeter bites. You can dab equal parts tea tree oil and neem oil to swollen bug bites. You can also use neem oil as a natural bug repellant. Note: these are herbalized oils not pure extracts.
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Classes in Kalamazoo
Rhonda Egidio, Ph. D. is an Ayurvedic Practitioner with great passion for sharing the wisdom of Ayurveda and the simple yet effective practices that can make important upgrades to our digestion and overall radiant health. For more info visit: http://RadiantLifeAyurveda.com
Radiant Life Ayurveda Center
Happy Hour with Ayurveda Teas and Treats Friday June 29 5:00-7:30pm
Learn about Ayurveda and how it can help you to have a more enjoyable and healthy life. Sample Ayurveda treats and specially formulated Ayurveda herbal teas for tranquil clarity, healthy digestion, and winged heart enlightenment. Cost: $24 limited enrollment Details
Natural Meditation - Free Class
Learn to meditate. August 8, 9, 10 and 17Details
You Are So Cool! Ayurveda Secrets for Radiant Summer Health
With each season, to be at optimum health, we must make adjustments to what we eat, what we do, and how we think about things. In summer Pitta we need to cool and nourish our bodies, our skin, our mood, and keep our digestive system toned. Learn how!
Thursday, July 19; 7:15-8:45pm. Cost ; $20.
Natural Meditation - Free Class
Learn to meditate. July 20, 21, 22, and 29 Details
Ayurveda Wisdom to Nourish and Moisturize Your Skin in the Heat of Summer
We need to protect (treasure) our skin, nourish and hydrate our skin both from within and from the outside. Try some diet, lifestyle and natural ways to nourish your skin this summer. Learn some new habits to add in as you live on. Shine.
Thursday, July 26; 7:15-8:45pm. Cost ; $20. Details
Ayurveda Basics Wednesdays 5:15-6:30pm July 25, August 1, August 8
Topics: Consciousness of Ayurveda, dosha constitution and current doshic imbalances, diet and lifestyle strategies for correcting imbalances, Ayurveda and yoga, early detection and disease prevention, the big 3-ojas, ama, and agni, and radiant possibilities.
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Personal Ayurveda Assessment 
Rhonda Egidio Ph.D., provides Ayurvedic assessments of primary health concerns, diet, sleep and lifestyle and offers Ayurvedic recommendations. Your assessment includes pulse and tongue diagnosis and health interview to determine your Constitutional Dosha balance (prakruti) and more importantly your current imbalance (vikruti).
You will receive a detailed written summary of your dosha states/assessment results, a list of personal recommendations, and recipes and other resources to support you in restoring balance.
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Rhonda Egidio, Radiant Life Ayurveda 269-345-2991
Ayurveda information shared here is for general educational purposes and is not intended to substitute for medical or psychological advice. Please consult with a qualified medical professional in these matters.  |
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Upcoming Events
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Radiant Life Ayurveda
Happy Hour-Teas and Treats June 29
Awake and Aware:
Your Cool! July 19
Ayurveda Wisdom for Skin July 26
Sangha Yoga
Ayurveda Basics July 25, August 1 & 8.
Natural Meditation Classes-Free
Various dates and locations
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Yoga for Soothing and Cooling Pitta
These yoga poses help to remove pitta from pitta sites such as the small intestines and liver.
Fish, camel, boat, cobra, cow and palm tree poses.
In the summer, Pitta people should avoid inverted poses such as shoulder stand and head stand. These pool excess blood and pitta to the thyroid and thymus glands, and can pitta provoke the eyes and brain in the summer.
Moon salutation can keep muscles, blood vessels, bones and nerves moving and healthy while soothing Pitta.
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Watermelon-Mint Smoothie
 2-3 cups diced seeded watermelon
4-5 fresh mint leaves, washed
1 sprig of fresh mint for garnish
Blend the watermelon and mint leaves to a smooth puree and serve cool, garnished with the sprig of fresh mint.
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Pitta Tea
Pitta pacifying-cooling.
Use whole seeds, leaves, or powder as you prefer.
1 tsp Hibiscus
1 tsp Rose Hips
1/2 tsp Red Clover
1/2 tsp Skull Cap
1 tsp Fennel
1/2 tsp Licorice
1/4 tsp Cardamom
Add a sprig of mint for more cool or a slice of lemon
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Sunscreens:
Can Natural Be Effective? 
How does your favorite rate? The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt--but when you need some UV protection--what are your options? Check out the annual sunscreen guide by EWG--Environmental Working Group, a non-profit. You can view the results of their testing --look for low numbers (1) in green -- these represent low hazard sunscreens or you can enter your favorite sunscreen in the search box to see how it rates as safe for you and the environment. EWG tested 800 sunscreens and only rate 25% of them as acceptable in terms of safety from chemicals and effectiveness.
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"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."
- Hans Hofmann
"Be yourself-everyone else is already taken."
- Oscar Wilde
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Pass It Along
Perhaps you know someone who may find life benefit in Ayurveda knowledge? Please forward this eNews on to them.
I will send out a monthly newsletter and perhaps an occasional additional mailing. If you do not wish to receive future mailings from Radiant Life Ayurveda, you may unsubscribe at the bottom of this email. This mailing list will not be sold or shared with others in respect for your privacy. Rhonda
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Free
Skin Needs Assessment
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 Are you ready to have some customized knowledge about your constitution and doshic imbalance to stimulate your health journey? Make an appointment for your Ayurveda Assessment and 1 followup for $160. Receive an Ayurveda skin type assessment with specific recommendations for you. |
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