Welcome!
The purpose of my blog is to raise your awareness of your life so you can realize you have a choice on how to live it. Along with this, a goal of mine is to increase your awareness of living a healthier lifestyle. Through articles, resources, empowering life tips and inspiring stories, Pathway to Presence will help you become more aware and mindful of your daily actions, thoughts, emotions and connection to your unique true self. Pathway to Presence will also explore some of the five senses, especially the sense of smell in relation to the art of Aromatherapy and how they can be used to guide you into the present moment.
I'll supply the content, you choose your path.
Enjoy!
What’s Your Dosha? Part Three ~ Pitta
By Gina | September 1, 2008
When we enter the summer season, we enter the season of Pitta. The two of the five elements that come together to form the Pitta force is water and fire. The qualities of this dosha are described as hot, light, sharp, fluid, soft and clear. Pitta governs the quality of transformation. If we have too much Pitta, this can cause hormonal imbalance, ulcers, anger, and irritated skin conditions. If we have too little Pitta, our metabolism can become sluggish, we can experience indigestion and a cluttered, confused mind.
Are you a fiery, passionate Pitta? Check out these characteristics of a Pitta individual below to see if any sound familiar to you.
The Pitta body type is comparable to the mesomorph body type. Their body frame is proportionate and they can gain and lose weight relatively easily. Their skin is usually sensitive, oily and warm to the touch. Their skin can burn easily with moles and freckles being fairly common as well as acne prone. Pitta types usually have blonde or reddish hair with sharp, penetrating eyes. Because they can be aggressive in nature, they love competition. Their memory is sharp and their speech can also be sharp and somewhat sarcastic. Pitta individuals can become angry and jealous when under stress. Their dreams are like their personality, fiery and passionate.
When ill, Pitta individuals usually will experience fever, inflammation and infection.
Here are some guidelines to help keep Pitta individuals balanced:
- Choose cool foods and drinks; foods to choose are those that are sweet, bitter and astringent in taste.
- Take a walk in the cool air
- Have fresh flowers in your house
- Where blue and green clothing colors
- Meditate
- Where silver jewelry as opposed to gold
- Avoid excess sun exposure, saunas and hot tubs
- Massage your scalp with coconut oil
- Practice cooling breath – roll your tongue and inhale through your rolled tongue then exhale through your nose – do a couple rounds of this breath
Since the qualities of Pitta are hot, light, sharp, and fluid (wet), essential oils that would help pacify Pitta are cooling, drying, calming and ones that dispel heat. Some of these essential oils are chamomile, lemon balm, peppermint, spearmint, yarrow, lemongrass, clary sage, lime, lavender, sandalwood, rose, tea tree and ylang ylang.
Remember we all are a combination of the three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha and everyone’s life circumstances and geographic location are different which can affect this combination.
*This article is intended to give out information only, not replacing medical care. Always seek medical attention when starting a new diet or exercise program.
Topics: Ayurveda | No Comments »
Technorati Tags: abyanga, aromatherapy, Ayurveda, body oils, Dosha, essential oils, fire and water, five elements, Kapha, massage, mesomorph, pitta, summer, vata
What’s Your Dosha? Part Two ~ Kapha
By Gina | September 1, 2008
When we enter the cold, cloudy, heavy season of Winter, we enter the Kapha dosha season. Qualities of this dosha are slow, heavy, cold, damp, soft, smooth and viscous, just like the qualities of winter. The two of the five elements that represent the Kapha dosha are water and earth.
Those who have predominantly Kapha qualities have strong muscles and large, heavy bones. They have a hard time losing weight and can put weight on very easily. The digestion of a Kapha individual is slow and so is their metabolism. However, Kapha people have a tendency to be healthy and they have very good stamina. They may be slow to start something, but once they get going, their endurance is excellent. Their hair is thick and wavy and skin is thick, smooth and oily. Their eyes are large and attractive and they have large, white teeth.
One of Kaphas downfalls is they have a sweet tooth. If they give in to the temptation of eating sweet, heavy foods, then they can gain weight very easily. Balanced Kaphas have long life spans, but if they don’t keep the weight off, then dis-ease can creep in such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Kaphas will feel better eating lighter foods, staying away from salty, sweet and oily foods.
Due to the qualities of Kapha, they have a harder time getting up in the morning. Their sleep patterns are usually long and deep. Because of this, it is best to rise before the sun to keep Kaphas in balance. Also, more vigorous exercise is good for the Kapha individual. Sinus congestion can also be an issue for this dosha as well as colds, sinus headaches and water retention.
Kapha individuals have a loving and compassionate nature. When balanced, they are forgiving, peaceful, tolerant, loyal and patient. When not balanced, they can suffer from jealousy, greed, attachment and possessiveness.
Here are some guidelines to keep Kapha individuals balanced:
- Avoid sweet, salty and oily foods
- Go to bed early and rise early
- Get plenty of exercise-an early morning brisk walk works wonders for me!
- Do not eat or drink iced foods
- Avoid dairy foods
- Eat lighter foods such as fruit (not sweet fruit but more atringest fruit such as apples, berries, cranberries, peaches and pears), and for meat choose chicken, turkey and fish
- Eat pungent and bitter vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, spinach and kale
- Meditate and Breathe (good for everyone!)
Since the natural qualities of the Kapha dosha are cold, moist and slow, essential oils that would best suit Kapha types are those that are warming, drying and stimulating. Here are some essential oils that would help to balance excess Kapha: Juniper berry, Orange, Lime, Ginger, Cumin, Basil, Cinnamon, Clove, Black pepper, Rose, Eucalyptus and Thyme.
Remember we all are a combination of the three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha and everyone’s life circumstances and geographic location are different which can affect this combination.
*This article is intended to give out information only, not replacing medical care. Always seek medical attention when starting a new diet or exercise program.
Topics: Ayurveda | No Comments »
Technorati Tags: abyanga, aromatherapy, Ayurveda, body oils, Dosha, essential oils, Kapha, meditation, pitta, vata, yoga
What’s Your Dosha? Part One ~ Vata
By Gina | August 31, 2008
Are you fiery Pitta? A thin-boned anxious Vata? or a hard-to-get-moving-in-the-morning Kapha?
Aromatherapy and essential oils can help to keep our doshas more balanced, but before we learn that, let’s take a look at what the heck a dosha is!
These three doshas, Vata, Pitta, Kapha, are the categories, or body types in Ayurveda. Much like the three body types we have in the west, the ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph, the three doshas each have their own, very unique characteristcs. According to Ayurveda we are born with all three doshas, but the amount of each dosha we have is unique to each of us and is determined when we are conceived. This specific combination of our doshas is called our ‘prakruti’ in sanskrit which means ‘nature.’ This unique combination or ‘dance’ between our three doshas determines our qualities and characteristics. It is said that when this ‘balanced dance’ of our prakruti develops an imbalance, then signs and symptoms of dis-ease in the body and mind can manifest.
Autumn is Vata season so let’s look at the characteristics of the Vata dominant individual. Vata elements are air and space. Vata body types generally have dry skin, lips and hair. They tend to have a thin body frame and are often underweight. They have a hard time sleeping and often have cold hands and feet, thus Vatas love hot weather and dislike the cold. Vata types tend toward constipation and some suffer from fear and anxiety. They are restless, being a fast walker and talker, and can do several things at a time. They usually have joints that crack easily and can feel insecure. Vata individuals usually grasp information quickly, but forget it just as fast. They also have quick minds and are very creative giving them excellent imaginations. Vata individuals usually have a hard time with stability and commitment. However they are clear-minded and are sometimes even clairvoyant.
If you’re finding you have a lot of Vata qualities, here are some guidelines to help keep Vata individuals in balance:
- Stay warm, avoiding extreme cold temperatures & drafty areas
- Avoid raw and cold foods
- Eat warm foods and spices
- Stay calm-try to discover ways to help you stay calm such as meditating, deep breathing, exercise, journaling etc.
- Practice restorative yoga
- Give yourself a daily abyanga oil massage
- Keeping a regular routine will help Vata types stay balanced
Since Vata types in general are more dry and cold, they benefit from essential oils that are more warming and moisturizing. Also, grounding essential oils will help balance Vata types since air and space are their elements.
Some of the best oils for balancing Vata excess are: Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Rose, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Anis, Ginger, Basil, Cardamom, Coriander,
Tarragon, Lavender, Clary Sage and Roman Chamomile.
Most carrier oils are good for Vata imbalance including sesame and hazelnut oil. You can make a Vata Balancing massage oil by choosing 1-3 essential oils from above and combining 30-50 drops total of your chosen essential oils with 4 oz of a carrier oil of your choice. Then massage yourself daily with your massage oil (Abyanga is the Sanskrit term for massage).
Each season brings about different changes in our bodies and emotions. Being aware of these changes and taking the appropriate actions such as changing your food choices, exercise routines and essential oils can help ease the transition through the seasons and keep your dosha in balance.
*This article is intended to give out information only, not replacing medical care. Always seek medical attention when starting a new diet or exercise program.
Topics: Ayurveda | No Comments »
Technorati Tags: abyanga, aromatherapy, Ayurveda, body oils, body types, essential oils, Kapha, massage, meditation, pitta, sesame oil, vata, yoga
What Is Ayurveda?
By Gina | August 31, 2008
Ayurveda is the ancient medicine system of India. It is said to be the world’s oldest recorded system of healing. Ayur means ‘life’ and veda means ‘knowledge or science’ so put the two together and you have the ‘Science of Life’.
I have been intrigued by Ayurveda for the past few years and have purchased numerous books on this subject as well as taken a Foundation course in it at Starseed Yoga Center. What draws me to this science is that Ayurveda treats the body as a whole ~ mind, body and spirit. It looks at what is the root cause of certain conditions of the body, not just how to treat the symptom of a certain condition. If you were to visit an Ayurvedic physician, his or her first question to you may be ‘what is your purpose in life?’ or ‘how is your digestion?’
Ayurvedic philosophy believes that health is a result of balance and harmony within one’s self. It believes that a strong immune system and healthy digestion are key components to a healthy person. Stress and negativity can lead to dis-ease in the body which Ayurveda believes to be a ‘call to attention’ or a ‘need for change.’
For example, did you ever overindulge in an area, be it food, work or even exercise? After a while, if you don’t check in with your body, it will tell you when it’s had enough. For instance, eating too fast is something my body has been telling me I need to work on. I’ve started getting indigestion and even acid reflux. When I eat slower, there’s no problem. But as soon as I unmindfully, start to chow down again, there it is saying, ‘hello? remember me?’ What signs has your body given you lately?
This ancient system of healing is so fascinating to me and I will continue to study it for the coming years. It’s concepts go very deep into the core of our being and encompasses every level including mental, physical, energetic, emotional and more.
Now it’s time to learn about the Ayurvedic dynamic forces called doshas. These doshas, in Ayurvedic philosophy, are created by two of the five elements (ether, air, fire, water & earth) pairing up with each other. The three main doshas that are formed are Vata, Kapha and Pitta. There are also sub-doshas which happen when an individual has many of the qualities or characteristics of two doshas instead of just one. For instance, one could be Kapha-Pitta or Pitta-Vata.
Click the Ayurveda category link at left to learn more about the 3 main doshas.
Topics: Ayurveda | No Comments »
Technorati Tags: aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Dosha, essential oils, Kapha, pitta, vata
Are You In A Rut? Then Change!
By Gina | August 28, 2008
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”
I’m not sure who said the quote above, but I use it quite often. I actually used it yesterday at my salon with one of my clients and this is what inspired this post.
Sheri’s Hair Story:
I have a client, let’s call her Sheri. Sheri comes in and she isn’t always happy with her hair. She has a decent amount of hair but it’s very fine with no natural body to it. She describes what she wants and I start the hair design. After I finish, I ask her if I can style her hair because Sheri usually puts product in, combs it in place and lets her hair dry naturally. She said she loves the way my hair looks. I really wanted to style her hair so I could show her that she can make it look similar to mine.
So I asked her and she let me. Sheri has a short haircut and I styled it showing her what to do as well as how to use product to make her hair have more body and life. It looked amazing. The other stylists even commented on how good it looked. She said ‘Are you kidding, I’m 60 years old?’ First of all she doesn’t look any where near 60 and is there a rule that you can’t wear certain hair styles because your 60? (ok, I’ll leave this for another post and you can check out Long Hair After 50?)
I told her she wasn’t used to styling it this way and she had to change her habits in order to change the way her hair looked. She said ‘I know, I know.’ But then she started fiddling with her hair like she always does, making it look like it always did and thus, not the way she really likes it to look. She’s in a rut with her old habits of styling. I did finally convince her to leave her hair the way it was (and I then re-styled it so she looked fab again) and tell me how many compliments she gets on it that day next time she comes in. I’ll let you know when I see her in 6 weeks!
I know I’m talking about hair, but the quote at the beginning of this article goes for anything in life. If you want things to be different, you have to change what you’re doing. Make sense? I have to remind myself of this almost on a daily basis. Change comes very easy for me when it concerns hair, but what about breaking out of a belief that goes through your mind every day when you try to achieve something else like a new business venture. It’s those incessant thoughts again that creep in and stop us right in our tracks.
It’s time to do something about it. Stop complaining and start changing!
Here’s how to start:
- Become aware throughout your day of any unwanted emotions or frustrations that appear.
- Realize what the root cause of that emotion is and write it down.
- Write down 3 things under that root cause that you can do differently that would make a positive difference in your emotion.
For example:
It’s my day off and I suddenly get this overwhelming feeling of frustration. I stop and feel this feeling and contemplate what the root cause of this is. I realize and write down my root cause which is that I have so much to do I don’t know where to start.
Under that statement I write down these three things I can change to help alleviate this emotion rather than staying in the rut of having this frustrating feeling all day:
- Write a list of the 3 most important things to do today.
- Start on the first thing and complete it before going on to the next.
- Be grateful that I am here and able to even choose to do these things.
You’ll be amazed at how this simple exercise can change your mood and set you up to accomplish the changes you thought you could never make.
So start climbing out of your rut today and enjoy your life!
If you’d like to learn more about clearing those unwanted thoughts, you can always go here and sign up for my free report.
Abundant wishes,
Gina
Topics: Personal Growth | No Comments »
Technorati Tags: awareness, change, hair, personal growth, spirituality, thoughts
Do You Live In Your Mind?
By Gina | August 25, 2008
future = imagination
past = memory
Do you realize the only moment where we have any power is in the Present Moment? There is nothing we can do about the past, which is a memory, and there’s not much we can do about the future, which lies in our imagination - and sometimes our imaginations can get out of control - at least I know mine can. The past has already happened so that is why it equals a memory. We can learn from our past, but to live in the past is not really living. On the other hand, if you are always in the future, in your imagination, wondering and hoping and striving for, then you neglect the Present Moment. It’s ok to go into the future to plan and set goals, but if you live there, your life will pass you by.
Anything that ever happens, only happens in the Now. When the past happened, it happened in the Now. When a future event happens, it only happens in the Now. The Present Moment is all we ever have. It doesn’t mean we are going to like what is happening in our life, but if we resist it, we will only suffer. Acceptance is the key to whatever is happening in your life at each moment. When you accept it, you are one with life. This is something I practice every day and it’s the most important thing I can do for myself and everyone else.
Don’t live in your mind. Practice Mindfulness to live more in the Present Moment. Whatever you are doing, do only that. If you are washing your hands, feel the water, its temperature and fluidity - don’t think about work or what time you are going to go workout. Be there in that moment.
Something that has helped me do this actually happened to me by accident. I purchased a new watch for work and I was trying to set a daily alarm. It has so many functions it was a little confusing learning how to work it, but I was finally able to set the alarm. Along with setting this alarm, I also some how set a chime to go off every hour. It startled me the first time I heard it, not because it’s loud, but because I wasn’t expecting it. I was thinking to myself how the heck did I do that and how do I stop it. A thought came to me about using this chime to remind me to be in the Present Moment. So now every hour when I hear that chime, no matter where I am, I take a deep inhale and exhale and become totally present. I get out of my head and into my surroundings. It’s been such a great reminder to stay present and I’m glad that some how I turned this chime on by accident (even though I don’t believe in accidents).
Now instead of an annoying noise, it’s one of the sweetest sounds I hear all day.
With gratitude,
Gina
Topics: Personal Growth | No Comments »
Technorati Tags: awareness, mindfulness, personal growth, present moment, spirituality, the mind
An Intricate Web
By Gina | August 18, 2008
Ok, I admit, I am loving my new camera and having quite a lot of fun with it. Like my step father said, when you start taking pictures, you really ’see’ things in a new way.
Anyway, I was sitting on the front porch of my mom’s house one morning and just happened to look over at this shrub and saw this really cool spider web. When I looked sideways at it, with the sun hitting it just right, I could really see more of the web and the intricate way this spider wove his/her masterpiece. Of course I thought, ‘I wonder if I could get a shot of this with my camera!’ So off I ran to get my camera and started snapping away.
What was really cool was after I loaded the images onto my computer, a part of the web, which was invisible to my eye outside, now appeared. It was the whole part of the web underneath the bowl-like structure above it. The whole web came alive in the photograph and I was so excited about it I wanted to put it up here so you could check it out. I think it’s pretty cool. What do you think? Use your sense of sight to really check out the details above and below that middle bowl-like structure. Nature is quite amazing.
I would have loved to have seen the creature who spun this web, but he/she was no where to be found, not that morning anyway. I’ll keep checking to see if it appears. And if it does, you know what I’ll be running to get…
Topics: Using Your Senses | 6 Comments »
Technorati Tags: camera, canon, spider webs, spiders, webs
Help For Athlete’s Foot
By Gina | August 17, 2008
Our feet tend to get neglected. If you or someone you know has Athlete’s Foot, try the following massage oil formula:
Tea Tree EO: 4 drops
Lavender EO: 1 drop
Lemon EO: 1 drop
Dilute the above essential oils (eo’s) in 1 teaspoon base oil such as sweet almond or sesame.
You can also put a drop of Tea Tree and Lavender EO on a cotton ball and gently rub it between the toes.
*Important Note: Before using any essential oils, check with your medical practitioner if you have any health concerns or conditions or if you are pregnant or nursing.
Topics: Aromatherapy Luminary Tips | No Comments »
Technorati Tags: aromatherapy, athlete's foot, essential oils, lavender, tea tree
Are You An Anxious Flyer?
By Gina | August 15, 2008
Many of us are - yes I admit I get a bit nervous when I fly-
but I’ve gotten a lot better!
Here’s what you can do to help calm the nerves.
Put a drop or two each of Lavender and Geranium essential
oils on a tissue and put the tissue in a small ziploc bag. Keep
it in your pocket or purse if you have one and when you feel
stress and anxiety creeping in, just open up the bag and take
a nice big inhale. Close your eyes and rest you head back and
take a couple nice deep belly breathes.
Now you’re ready to soar!
Topics: Aromatherapy Luminary Tips | No Comments »
Technorati Tags: anxiety, aromatherapy, breathe, essential oils, fear of flying, geranium, lavender
Long Hair After 50?
By Gina | August 1, 2008
I just saw the movie, ‘Momma Mia’ and rather enjoyed it. I love Meryl Streep which is what made me want to go see the movie. Seeing her sing and dance (and looking like she was highly enjoying this role) with her long hair swooshing around made me think about a client who recently asked me what I think about long hair on older women. I told her that I don’t go by all the ‘rules’ that are out there. If you like having long hair and you take care of it and it makes you feel good, then why the heck would you cut it off? Meryl Streep is a perfect example. She will be turning 60 next year and I think she looks amazing, long hair and all.
Stop trying to please everyone else and start doing what makes you feel good. Of course some women will look better with shorter hair as they get older, but by no means do you have to cut your hair because society tells you that you shouldn’t have long hair after a certain age. It’s your life, and you’re only in this body for a short while so go with what brings you the most joy and don’t worry about what everybody else thinks and does.
Shine, romp around, laugh, cry, long hair or short-do what you love!
with gratitude,
Gina
Topics: Personal Growth | 2 Comments »
Technorati Tags: grey hair, long hair, mature women, meryl streep, personal growth
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